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theVARSlTY 


V  OoC  1  o 


MONDAY,  MAY  15, 2006 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  TORONTO'S  STUDENT  NEWSPAPER  SINCE  1880 


VOL.  CXXVII,  NO.  1 


Adieu  Sodexho,  howdy  Aramark 


Mike  Ghenu  &  Kevin  Wong 

VARSITY  STAFF  

Fifty-odd  union  workers  rallied  out- 
side Simcoe  Hall  on  Friday  reacting  to 
news  that  Sodexho — the  French  com- 
pany that  provides  food  on  U  of  T's  St. 
George  campus — is  being  replaced 
by  Philadelphia-based  Aramark,  and 
driven  by  worries  that  U.  of  T  food  ser- 
vice workers  may  lose  their  union  as 
a  result. 

Meanwhile,  a  delegation  from  Unite 
Here,  the  union  representing  Sodex- 
ho's  U  of  T  employees,  met  with  uni- 
versity officials  inside. 

"We  explained  how  vulnerable 
everybody  feels,  and  that  because 
they're  the  client,  they're  the  one  con- 
trolling this,  that  they  need  to  step  in 
and  make  sure  that  Aramark  recogniz- 
es the  collective  agreement  that  these 
workers  fought  for,"  said  Alex  Daag, 
the  executive  director  of  Unite  Here. 

"It  was  a  big  struggle  to  get  the 
agreement,"  added  Valerie  Gaynor, 
who  is  a  cook  at  the  New  College  caf- 
eteria. The  union  agreement  was  ap- 
proved in  February. 

Maria  Del  Mar-Morales,  who  mans 
the  pizza  station  at  the  New  College 
cafeteria,  said  the  union  agreement 
has  boosted  her  wage  by  fifty  cents,  to 
$10.50  an  hour.  While  she  plans  to  stay 
on  after  the  change-over,  Del  Mar-Mo- 
rales worried  that  Aramark  might 
treat  returning  employees  who  had 
worked  for  Sodexho  for  many  years 
as  if  they  had  just  walked  through  the 
door. 

Daag,  Del  Mar-Morales,  and  Gaynor 
met  with  Catherine  Riggall  and  An- 
gela Hildyard,  U  of  T's  vice-presi- 
dents of  business  affairs  and  human 
resources,  respectively.  In  an  inter- 
view, Hildyard  noted  that  Aramark  is 
not  compelled  to  keep  the  collective 
agreement  struck  between  Unite  Here 
and  Sodexho's  employees. 

Unlike  the  case  where  one  company 
buys  another  and  is  forced  to  honour 
existing  collective  agreements,  she 
said,  "in  what's  happened  here,  where 


Members  of  Unite  Here — the  union  that  since  February  represents  Sodexho  food  employees  on  the  St.  George  campus — rallied 
outside  Simcoe  Hall  last  Friday  while  a  union  delegation  met  with  university  administration  officials  inside. 


it's  a  commercial  change,  Ontario  law 
does  not  require  that  the  collective 
agreement  continue." 

Hildyard  added,  however,  that  "if 
the  University  of  Toronto  had  been  in 
this  situation,  the  University  of  Toron- 
to would  almost  certainly  have  recog- 
nized the  current  agreement." 

Sodexho  has  been  the  food  provid- 
er on  U  of  T's  St.  George  campus  for 
16  years,  serving  out  two  contracts 
and  one  contract  extension.  The  cur- 
rent contract  with  Sodexho  run  out 
July  31,  and  Aramark's  contract  may 
run  between  seven  and  ten  years,  by 
Riggall's  reckoning. 

A  town  hall  meeting  between  So- 
dexho employees  and  Aramark  to 
discuss  the  union  issue  is  scheduled 


for  this  week. 

Aramark  provides  various  "man- 
aged services,"  including  a  campus 
service,  according  to  its  website, 
which  includes  control  of  food  ser- 
vice outlets  such  as  Tim  Hortons, 
Starbucks,  Mr.  Sub,  Pizza  Pizza,  and 
Pita  Pit.  The  company  does  business 
in  19  countries,  and  has  240,000  em- 
ployees. 

Aramark  serves  more  than  400  col- 
leges, universities,  and  prep  schools 
across  North  America.  Its  list  of  cli- 
ents includes  New  York  University, 
Florida  State  University,  and  U  of  T's 
Scarborough  Campus,  among  a  num- 
ber of  others. 

In  the  past,  Aramark  has  faced  criti- 
cism from  students  at  the  University 


of  Alberta,  who  complained  to  the  uni- 
versity administration  over  the  cost 
and  nutritional  value  of  the  food  pro- 
vided by  the  company,  according  to 
U  of  A's  student  newspaper.  The  Gate- 
way. 

At  Trent  University,  in  Peterbor- 
ough, The  Arthur  reported  that  Ara- 
mark requires  that  all  campus  events 
involving  food  be  catered  by  the  com- 
pany; and  student  groups  are  limited 
to  maximum  two  pot  luck  events  each 
year.  Last  December,  students  held 
an  "illegal  potluck  dinner"  to  rally 
against  the  contracted  monopoly  that 
restricts  any  form  of  for-profit  food 
service  as  well  as  the  ability  for  stu- 
dents to  share  food  through  campus 
events. 


Budget  'o6:  the  student  view 


Mike  Ghenu 

NEWS  EDITOR 


While  student  advocates  and  op- 
position legislators  criticized  the 
2006  federal  budget  for  a  lack  of 
vision  and  commitment  to  post- 
secondary  institutions,  the  bill 
itself  promises  to  help  graduate 
students  and  scholarship  winners. 
The  budget  passed  a  first  vote  last 
Wednesday. 

"[Post-secondary  education] 
was  not  part  of  their  top  five  prior- 
ities," charged  Phillippe  Ouellette, 
of  the  Canadian  Alliance  of  Student 
Associations  (CASA).  "They've  ob- 
viously missed  the  mark." 

CASA,  an  Ottawa-based  lobby 
group,  argues  that  a  "Canada  Edu- 
cation Transfer"  fund  that  would 
inject  at  least  $4  billion  a  year  into 
Canada's  post-secondary  educa- 
tion system  is  the  best  way  to  im- 
prove colleges  and  universities. 

NDP  education  critic  Judy  Wasy- 
lycia-Leis,  member  of  parliament 
for  Winnipeg  North,  largely  con- 
curred with  Ouellette's  assess- 
ment. 


CAUGHT  IN  THE  MIDDLE:  While  this  year's  federal  budget  includes  changes  to  the  tax  code  that  may  defray  up  to  $80  on  textbook 
costs  and  $124  on  transit  passes  for  a  typical  full-time  student,  increases  in  tuition  for  the  2006/7  schoolyear  may  well  outstrip 
these  gains.  Returning  arts  and  science  students  can  expect  to  dish  out  an  extra  $167;  students  in  engineering  will  pay  $280  more; 
MBA  students  have  it  worst  of  all:  their  tuition  will  go  up  from  $25,000  to  $28,000. 


"There  are  a  few  of  these  tax 
measures  that  help  a  bit — that's 
better  than  nothing,"  she  said. 
"But  by  and  large,  it  a  continu- 
ation of  the  same  approach,  a 
hodge-podge  of  programs  that  are 
meant  to  replace  the  cash  transfer 


approach." 

To  Ouellette's  figure,  Wasylycia- 
Leis  replied  that  education  trans- 
fer as  low  as  $1.2  billion  a  year 
would  make  an  impact  right  away. 

"All  we  need  right  now  is  fed- 
eral government  agreement  that 


it  has  a  role  to  play  in  terms  of 
cash  transfers,"  she  continued. 
"And  that  if  it's  really  concerned 
about  fiscal  imbalance,  it  should 
be  concerned  by  redressing  that 

SEE  BUDGET -PG  3 


Headscarf 
unwelcome 
at  Law? 


Sarah  Barmak 

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 


Like  many,  25-year-old  Farah  Yameen 
returned  to  work  after  the  winter  holi- 
day last  January  feeling  more  deeply 
connected  to  her  faith. 

But  what  she  wore  to  work  to  show 
that  faith — an  Islamic  headscarf,  or 
hijab — led  a  co-worker  to  tell  Yameen 
in  front  of  other  employees  that  she 
was  "scaring  people." 

Yameen  and  the  co-worker,  Judy 
Finlay,  both  worked  at  the  financial 
aid  office  of  the  University  of  Toronto 
Faculty  of  Law,  a  faculty  that  prides  it- 
self on  the  courses  it  offers  on  Islamic 
law  and  the  fact  that  30  per  cent  of  its 
students  are  visible  minorities.  It  is 
yet  another  case  of  offensive,  ethni- 
cally-charged statements  occurring 
on  U  of  T's  usually  tolerant  campus. 

Yameen,  a  U  of  T  graduate  who 
worked  part-time  as  an  assistant  in 
the  office,  was  getting  ready  to  leave 
after  work  on  January  11  when  Finlay, 
the  faculty's  assistant  registrar,  in  her 
late  fifties,  made  the  remarks. 

"She  said  1  look  scary  and  am  scar- 
ing people,"  said  Yameen.  "She  said 
that  you  should  leave  your  religion 
behind  when  you  come  to  Canada.  I 
told  her  wearing  the  hijab  was  a  sym- 
bol of  my  faith.  She  said  she  hoped  it 
was  a  phase  1  was  going  through. 

"She  initially  thought  1  was  just  hav- 
ing a  bad  hair  day,"  added  Yameen. 

The  faculty's  administration  con- 
ducted an  investigation  "immedi- 
ately," according  to  Assistant  Dean 
of  Students  Bonnie  Goldberg.  But 
Yameen,  who  resigned  from  her  job 
last  month  due  to  the  incident,  says 
she  never  received  the  support  she 
needed. 

"I  waited  for  days  for  a  response" 
from  administration,  during  which 
time  "I  was  an  emotional  wreck,"  said 
Yameen  in  an  open  letter  to  Goldberg 
written  after  her  resignation. 


SEE 'HIJAB' -PG  2 


Check  out  www.thevarsjty.ca 
for  answers  to  the  following: 

•  Why  did  U  of  T's  Faculty  of  Law  decide  to 
retain  its  current  campus  location,  instead 
of  moving  to  a  new  site?  JULIA  LO  reports. 


•  What  did  American  anti-war  mom  Cindy 
Sheehan  have  to  say  about  George  W. 
Bush  and  Stephen  Harper  when  she  spoke 
at  Convocation  Hall  on  May  3? 

ALEX  KAZIA  was  there. 

•  Plans  were  unveiled  last  month  to 
enable  the  100.000-odd  international  stu- 
dents attending  Canadian  universities  to 
worl<  off-campus.  When  will  the  program 
be  in  place?  AMY  SMITHERS  finds  out. 


2   MONDAY,  MAY  15, 2006 


VARSITY  NEWS 


news@thevarsity.ca 


Documenting  Africa's 
forgotten  war' 


Last  year,  humanitarian  organization  Medecins  Sans  Frontieres  sent  five  top  photo- 
journalists  to  the  Democratic  Republic  of  the  Congo.  Their  handiwork  is  on  display  at 
the  Scotiabank  Plaza  downtown  until  May  31. 


Rehaana  Manek 


When  thinking  of  the  Democratic  Re- 
public of  the  Congo,  the  misery  of  Jo- 
seph Conrad's  novel  Heart  of  Darkness 
is  among  the  first  things  that  comes  to 
mind.  But  there  is  much  more  to  this 
forgotten  country,  a  population  of  54 
million  people,  and  an  eight-year  war 
which  actual  combat  was  only  a  small 
portion,  the  Congolese  people  suffer 
extreme  preventable  deprivation. 

Although  the  war  itself  ended  in 
with  a  peace  accord  in  2002,  the 
death  toll  has  reached  1,200  people 
per  day  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the 
country  where  the  instability  is  at 
its  peak.  With  their  first  elections  in 
40  years  just  around  the  corner  this 
June,  tensions  are  running  high. 

"We  really  hope  to  raise  aware- 
ness," said  Helen  O'Neill,  Deputy 
Director  of  Operations  at  Medecins 
Sans  Frontieres  (MSF),  "and  photo- 
graphs are  a  great  medium."  Accord- 
ing to  her,  the  'Forgotten  War"  exhibit. 


showcases  the  lack  of  awareness  and 
foreign  compassion. 

"Someone  loses  a  child  everyday, 
when  you  see  a  woman  lose  half  her 
children,  then  the  last  one,  what  do 
you  say?"  Said  O'Neill,  who  has  been 
working  in  the  DRC  since  the  begin- 
ning, "She  accepts  it,  she  understands 
what  life  is  like." 

From  May  until  August  2005,  MSF 
sent  five  renowned  photographers 
from  the  VII  Photo  Agency  to  capture 
this  inhumanity  to  show  an  under- 
reported  tragedy  to  the  world.  Ron 
Haviv,  Gary  Knight,  Antonin  Krato- 
chvil,  Joachim  Ladefoged,  and  James 
Nachtwey  are  the  artistic  masters  be- 
hind the  'Forgotten  War'  exhibit. 

For  U  of  T  sisters  Mera  and  Arabhi 
Nirmalan-Nathan  the  exhibit  was  a 
true  education. 

"Reading  about  a  situation  is  one 
thing,  but  there's  only  so  much  you 
can  imagine,"  said  first  year  student 
Arabhi,  "You  don't  want  to  think 
about  what  the  torture  is,  but  when 


its  right  in  front  of  you  and  your  con- 
fronted with  it,  it  makes  u  think  of 
the  situation  another  way.  Visually  it 
takes  you  to  another  level." 

According  to  Arabhi,  the  general 
hope  here  is  that  people  associate 
with  pictures  more  than  with  words, 
"How  many  people  did  u  hear  talking 
about  Rwanda  before  the  movie?," 
she  asked.  This  underreported  way 
of  life  is  neglected  not  only  by  the  me- 
dia but  by  the  greater  outside  world, 
leaving  the  Congolese  people  forgot- 
ten. 

"We  are  pretty  aware  as  a  group 
of  people,  the  student  body  is  quite 
informed,"  said  third-year  linguistics 
major  Mera,  "but  we  should  be  doing 
something  more  productive  with  that 
information.  There  should  be  more  in- 
formation, before  this  exhibit  I  didn't 
know  much  about  it.  What  we  know 
about  on  campus  are  things  that  are 
big  in  the  news." 

MSF  is  heavily  involved  in  the  east- 
ern part  of  the  country,  where  there 
is  the  most  risk  with  preventable 
diseases,  destitution,  fear  of  rape 
and  murder,  and  endless  death.  MSF 
dispenses  vaccinations  for  malaria 
and  measles,  and  trying  to  quell  the 
extreme  illnesses  that  are  barely  a 
problem  in  the  west. 

"People  believe  that  because  there 
is  an  ongoing  peace  process  that  the 
problem  in  the  Congo  is  over  and  we 
can  move  on,  that's  not  the  case," 
said  O'Neill,  "It's  unstable,  people  are 
in  a  constant  state  of  running,  they 
sow  crops  but  can't  stay  long  enough 
to  harvest.  Everyone  has  been  dis- 
placed at  least  once." 

For  O'Neill,  it's  a  constant  heart- 
break, and  also  a  constant  reminder 
that  in  the  heart  of  Africa  where  mis- 
ery seems  to  run  rampant,  humanity 
still  exists.  "Everyone  has  lost  some- 
one, it's  all  a  struggle  to  survive,  but 
they  all  know  how  to  be  patient.  They 
are  waiting  for  it  to  get  better." 


A  farm  for  all  faiths 


Archbishop  seeks  to  better  Muslim-Christian  relations  in  Nigeria 


Josephine  Lee 

ASSOCIATE  NEWS  EDITOR 


Nigerian  Archbishop  Josiah  Idowu- 
Fearon  has  spent  his  career  striving 
to  improve  Muslim-Christian  relations 
on  a  local,  but  also  on  a  global  level.  In 
2003,  his  archdiocese  purchased  the 
Jacaranda  Farm,  with  the  hope  that 
it  would  become  a  source  of  income 
for  the  local  population  and  a  place  to 
promote  Christian-Muslim  reconcilia- 
tion. 

Jacaranda  Farm  is  78  hectares  in 
size,  and  contains  amongst  other  facil- 
ities a  self-contained  water  table,  two 
dams  to  reserve  stream  water,  irriga- 
tion infrastructure,  land  for  orchards 
and  plantations,  poultry  pens  and  a 
piggery.  It  is  located  in  north-central 
Nigeria,  a  country  of  131  million  that 
has  long  been  torn  by  tensions  be- 
tween its  largely  Muslim  north  and 
Christian  south. 

Earlier  this  month,  Idowu-Fearon 
taught  a  course  on  Muslim-Christian 
dialogue  at  Wycliffe  College.  He  also 
spent  time  promoting  the  Jacarunda 
Farm  project  at  a  concert  hosted  by 
St.  Paul's  Anglican  Church  on  May  6. 

In  the  midst  of  his  busy  schedule, 
the  Idowu-Fearon  took  some  time  to 


talk  to  The  Varsity  dboui  his  work. 

The  Varsity:  What  do  you  hope  to 
achieve  with  the  Jacaranda  Farm  by 
the  end  of  this  year? 

Archbishop  Josiah  Idowu-Fearon: 
We  should  have  the  various  sections 
of  the  farm  in  order:  poultry,  hostel  ac- 
commodations for  at  least  30  people, 
etc. 

V:  What  about  after  five  years? 

A:  The  ultimate  aim  is  to  bring 
young  Christians  and  Muslims  to- 
gether. After  five  years,  we'd  like  to 
see  500  Christians  and  Muslims  who 
have  a  better  understanding  of  their 
own  and  each  other's  faith.  We  want 
to  encourage  peaceful  co-existence 
and  support  the  effort  of  the  govern- 
ment to  create  jobs. 

There  are  politicians  who  use  re- 
ligion to  create  crisis  situations  and 
employ  jobless  people  to  perpetuate 
them.  We  want  to  counter  joblessness 
(with  the  Farm].  Eventually,  we  hope 
to  have  100  people  there  per  year. 

V:  What  is  the  current  religious  cli- 
mate like  in  Jacaranda  and  Kaduna? 
What  changes  do  you  hope  to  make? 

A:  The  present  government  puts 


on  a  religious  facade  for  everything, 
when  it's  actually  always  politics.  We 
hope  the  Farm  will  be  a  plateau,  culti- 
vating a  culture  of  positive  tolerance 
and  respect.  People  must  see  that 
they  have  a  stake  in  the  state,  they 
must  maintain  a  peaceful  environ- 
ment for  people.  Religion  is  a  gift  from 
God  for  humanity  and  should  be  used 
for  brotherhood. 

V:  How  have  the  citizens  of  Kaduna 
reacted  to  the  idea  of  the  farm? 

A:  Some  think  it's  good,  others  don't 
care.  No  negative  reactions.  There  is  a 
level  of  expectation,  so  we  want  to  get 
things  going. 

V:  Have  any  other  individuals  or  or- 
ganizations lent  their  support  to  the 
project? 

A:  The  United  African  Company, 
a  food  outfit  like  KFC,  has  agreed  to 
buy  our  chickens  but  we  won't  sell  to 
them  because  they  don't  offer  enough 
money.  At  least  we  know  the  farm  is 
ready  for  the  market. 

Students  interested  in  becoming  involved 
in  tlie  Jacaranda  Farm  project  can  obtain 
information  at  St  Paul's  Anglican  Church  at 
227BloorSt£. 


HIJAB  - CONTINUED  FROM  PG  1 

Goldberg  admits  things  didn't  move 
very  quickly,  but  it  was  because  the 
situation  was  complex  and  sensitive. 

"The  allegation  was  substantiated 
and  [Finlay]  was  advised  of  that" 
within  the  next  week,  said  Goldberg. 
"These  were  inappropriate,  unaccept- 
able comments."  Goldberg  wouldn't 
share  details  of  whether  Finlay  was 
disciplined,  but  said  that  both  parties 
were  encouraged  to  meet  with  Nou- 
man  Ashraf,  U  of  T's  Anti-Racism  and 
Cultural  Diversity  officer.  Yameen  de- 
clined to  do  so,  saying  she  wasn't  the 
one  who  needed  counseling. 

Yameen  became  "bewildered" 
when  Finlay  said  a  few  days  after  the 
incident  that  she  would  apologize  to 
Yameen,  but  then  she  changed  her 
mind  days  later,  citing  legal  concerns. 
When  Finlay  eventually  read  Yameen 
a  written  apology  about  a  month  after 
the  incident,  Yameen  said  it  felt  mean- 
ingless and  "fake." 

"It's  so  childish.  [She]  should  be  ac- 
countable," said  Yameen. 

When  asked  how  such  an  incident 
could  happen  at  a  faculty  that  prizes 
diversity,  the  director  of  admissions 
and  financial  aid  and  Yameen's  su- 
pervisor, Mai-Anh  Giap,  said  she's 
"stumped." 

"Farah  cried  for  a  week  when  this 
happened,"  she  said. 

Yameen  is  less  upset  with  Finlay 
than  with  the  faculty's  administra- 
tion for  failing  to  support  her  and 
protect  her.  Their  mismanagement 


became  clear,  she  said,  when  Finlay 
again  made  offensive  comments  to 
Yameen,  this  time  on  her  last  day  at 
work  in  March. 

"1  told  her  the  incident  was  the 
main  reason  for  me  leaving,  and 
she  said,  'Why  are  you  still  continu- 
ing this?'  and  'Why  are  you  causing 
havoc?'  She  complained  that  1  almost 
got  her  fired,"  said  Yameen,  who  left 
distraught. 

In  a  statement  sent  to  The  Varsity, 
Finlay  emphasized  that  her  comments 
came  out  of  a  wish  to  have  "free  dis- 
cussion" and  debate  on  issues  in  the 
office,  but  that  "[i]t  is  clear  now  that 
1  should  have  never  had  the  [initial] 
conversation  with  Farah.  It  is  a  new 
world  we  live  in  nowadays." 

An  investigation  into  the  March 
incident  by  the  manager  of  human 
resources,  Susan  Anderson,  is  ongo- 
ing. Meanwhile,  Goldberg  said  that 
the  staff  is  scheduled  to  have  devel- 
opment and  sensitivity  training  with 
Ashraf's  office  next  week. 

"1  believe  that  the  matter  had  resolu- 
tion and  closure,"  said  Goldberg,  who 
said  that  she  nevertheless  wasn't  sat- 
isfied with  the  outcome.  "1  regret  that 
Farah  chose  to  resign."  Dean  of  Law 
Mayo  Moran  said  she's  concerned 
with  how  the  incident  reflected  on  the 
faculty.  "When  you  look  back. .  .there's 
always  room  for  improvement." 

For  Yameen,  any  action  taken  was 
too  little,  too  late. 

"This  administration  has  failed  to 
do  what  it  was  supposed  to  do,"  she 
said.  "They  drove  me  to  leave." 


//SCREAM  IT  OUT  LOUD! 


On  April  30  more  than  one  thousand  demonstrators  congregated  at  Queen's  Park 
to  "Scream  for  Darfur."  The  rally  was  organized  by  a  few  high  school  students 
who  created  a  group  called  Project  Equity  in  order  to  organize  this  rally,  and  other 
initiatives.  David  Berkal  MC'd  the  rally  and  is  one  of  the  people  at  the  centre  of 
Project  Equity.  He  explained  that  the  screaming  motif  was  an  attempt  to  counter  the 
silence  on  the  world  stage  that  has  surrounded  the  genocide  in  the  Darfur  province 
of  Sudan  since  it  began  in  2003.  Berkal  even  read  out  Prime  Minister  Harper's 
private  office  phone  number  and  encouraged  demonstrators  to  call  and  voice  sup- 
port for  Canada's  immediate  and  active  intervention  to  stop  the  genocide  in  Darfur. 
Speakers  included  members  of  the  Toronto  Sudanese  community,  youth  activists, 
and  prominent  MP's  such  as  NDP  leader.  Jack  Layton  and  prominent  human  rights 
lawyer  Irwin  Cotler.— DANIEL  ROTH 


news@thevarsity.ca 


//A  SURVEY  OF  CRIME 


CRIME  LEGEND 


property  stolen  from 
locked  locker 

stolen  bike 

property  stolen  when 
left  unattended 

theft  over  $5,000  in 
value 


Just  over  120  incidents  were  formally  reported  by  the  University  of  Toronto  Police  between 
April  7  and  May  11.  The  majority  of  the  responses  dealt  with  unwelcome  or  suspicious  persons 
removed  from  the  premises,  and  thefts  under  $5000.  A  rundown  of  incidents  on  campus: 

•  Unwanted/Suspicious  Person:  24  incidents 

•  Medical  Calls/Chemical  Accidents:  17  incidents 

•  Theft  Over  $5000: 2  incidents 

•  Theft  Under  $5000: 55  incidents 

•  Property  Damaged,  Break  and  Enter,  and  General  Mischief:  14  incidents 

•  Assaults,  Domestic  Disputes,  and  General  Disputes:  7  incidents 

•  Attempted  Theft:  4  incidents 


Many  thefts  occurred  not  in  open  spaces,  but  from  secured  lockers,  4  of  which  were  located 
in  Hart  House,  and3  in  Edward  Johnson.  On  May  5,  a  trumpet  was  stolen  from  a  locker  in  the 
Edward  Johnson  music  building,  as  well  as  a  flute  worth  nearly  $10,000. 
Of  the  55  thefts  under  $5000, 21  of  the  incidents  occurred  when  personal  property  was  left 
unattended.  Nine  bicycles  were  reported  stolen,  four  of  those  thefts  happening  in  the  area 
around  Robarts  on  May  10-11  alone. 

Incidents  of  a  more  peculiar  type  this  month  included  a  student  who  collapsed  in  Robarts  due 
to  a  lack  of  food  on  April  13,  and  a  noisy  group  of  youths  who  were  caught  in  the  parking  lot  at 
256  McCaul  St.  around  11  p.m.  on  Friday,  May  5,  one  of  them  clutching  a  bottle  of  beer  while 
sitting  behind  the  wheel  of  a  parked  car.  -AMY  SMITHERS 


'BUDGET -CONTINUED  FROM  PG  1 

through  increased  amounts  for  education," 
she  said. 

What  is  in  the  budget  then?  For  starters, 
come  July  1,  commuter  students  will  be  able 
to  start  claiming  tax  credits  on  the  cost  of 
a  Metropass — a  full-time  student  taking 
transit  for  eight  months  may  get  as  much  as 
$124  in  tax  credits.  Textbook  tax  credits  are 
in  there  too:  full-time  students  will  be  able 
to  claim  up  to  $65  per  month  in  textbook 
costs.  This  could  add  up  to  an  $80  return 
for  a  full-timer. 

But,  Asif  Pirani,  a  fresh  U  of  T  medical 
school  graduate,  pointed  out  that  medical 
students  spend  about  $1,500  on  non-text- 
book materials  during  their  four  years: 
stethoscopes,  otoscopes,  opthalmoscopes, 
and  other  equipment. 

"Generally,  people  buy  the  stuff  all  at 
once,"  said  Pirani,  during  their  first  or  sec- 


ond year.  "It's  something  1  have  to  pay  for 
because  I'm  in  school,  so  1  think  it  should  be 
tax  deductible,"  he  added. 

Dentistry  students  have  it  even  worse: 
their  equipment  costs  run  between  $3,000 
and  $6,000  a  year,  according  to  their  course 
calendar. 

Another  budget  measure,  which  will 
make  all  grant  and  scholarship  income  non- 
taxable, promises  to  impact  graduate  stu- 
dents, such  Tracy  Tivell,  a  PhD  candidate  in 
the  department  of  anthropology. 

"I  have  an  NSERC  [research  grant],  and 
they  give  you  $21,000  a  year,  but  then  you 
end  up  having  to  give  five  or  six  grand  of 
that  back  in  taxes,"  she  said.  "So  probably, 
over  the  last  five  years,  I've  had  to  give  back 
$20,000  in  taxes  on  my  scholarships." 

Unfortunately  for  Tivell,  she  expects  to 
defend  her  thesis  by  late  fall,  so  the  tax 
changes  won't  affect  her  much.  But  other 
graduate  students  will  surely  be  glad. 


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4    MONDAY,  MAY  15, 2006  W         I  II      I       %#  \J  I  T  1 1  W  I  mm  1^1  opinions@thevarsity.ca 


Hit  the  road,  U  of  T 


Now  that  exams  have  mercifully 
come  to  a  close,  most  students  will 
have  begun  to  take  on  (or  look  for) 
some  form  of  employment  that  will 
keep  them  fed  and  sheltered  during 
the  summer  months.  But  before  hun- 
kering down  in  your  offices,  summer 
camps,  and  warehouses  to  make 
some  more  moolah  for  the  alma  ma- 
ter, might  we  humbly  offer  a  sugges- 
tion: if  you  have  the  means,  and  even 
if  you  don't,  take  a  few  days  off  this 
summer  and  get  out  of  town. 

We've  all  been  sequestered  for  too 
long  in  labs  and  libraries.  Now  is  the 
time  to  get  in  touch  with  that  wider 


-  EDITORIAL  " 

world  that  we  too  easily  forget  about 
during  exam  time — a  world  with 
stories,  sights,  and  new  experiences 
galore. 

Young  people  today  have  the  op- 
portunity to  travel  more  than  any 
preceding  generation,  and  it  be- 
hooves us  to  make  use  of  any  chance 
we  get.  Whether  it's  a  return  to  one's 
native  land,  the  tried-and-true  back- 
pack through  Europe,  or  a  baseball- 
themed  road  trip,  some  time  away 
does  wonders  towards  broadening 


our  perspective  and  adding  to  the 
"life  experience"  so  desired  by  em- 
ployers and  grad  schools. 

If  the  thought  of  leaving  the  ol'  red 
and  white  scares  you,  fear  not.  Our 
diversity  in  terms  of  geography  and 
language  is  such  that  it  would  take 
five  or  six  trips  to  truly  appreciate 
the  cultural  amalgam  that  is  Canada. 
Simply  pick  a  region  you  haven't  ex- 
plored yet,  and  hop  a  train — a  small 
town  just  a  few  hours  away  can  feel 
like  a  whole  new  world. 

Cost  can,  of  course,  be  a  hin- 
drance to  travel,  but  it  needn't  be 
with  a  little  planning  and  a  sense 


of  adventure.  Youth  hostels,  host 
families,  and  shared  sleeping  com- 
partments all  provide  the  opportu- 
nity for  memorable  experiences  and 
new  friendships,  while  government 
programs  and  bursaries — such  as 
the  J'Explore  French  immersion 
course — are  unique  and  affordable 
options  for  students. 

It  is  crucial  to  get  out  there  and  see 
how  things  work  in  other  parts  of  the 
world.  The  variety  of  human  experi- 
ence is  just  staggering  and  is  some- 
thing to  be  celebrated.  It's  even  more 
important  to  start  this  exploration 
early,  even  if  it  doesn't  make  total  fi- 


nancial sense  to  do  so,  since  only  by 
going  to  a  place  first  can  you  return 
later  and  see  it  again  with  new  eyes. 

As  Canadian  novelist  Margaret 
Laurence  put  it,  to  visit  somewhere 
is  to  always  have  that  place  with  us 
once  we  leave,  available  in  our  mem- 
ories whenever  we  feel  like  a  return 
trip. 

Before  we  know  it,  school  will  start 
again  and  we  will  once  more  find  our- 
selves barricaded  in  reading  rooms 
and  lecture  halls.  Do  yourself  a  fa- 
vour, and  make  sure  that  when  that 
time  comes  you'll  have  some  exciting 
memories  of  new  lands  to  return  to. 


No  mas  for  Hamas 


But  cutting  aid  not  the  way  to  go  for  Canada 


Adrian  Morson 


In  one  of  the  first  international 
policy  moves  by  Canada's  new  gov- 
ernment, the  Harper  administra- 
tion declared  that  Canada  would 
cut  funding  to  the  new  democrati- 
cally elected  Palestinian  Author- 
ity. I  emphasize  "democratically 
elected"  because  it  is  crucial  to 
remember  that  under  incredible 
hardships — both  domestic  and  in- 
ternational— the  Palestinian  people 
were  out  en  masse  to  exercise  their 
right  to  vote.  And  in  return  for  this 
commitment  to  the  democratic  pro- 
cess, Canada  was  the  first  among 
the  Western  states  to  cut  funding 
to  the  new  Hamas-led  Palestinian 
Authority. 

Our  government's  rationale  was 
simple  enough:  until  Hamas  heeds 
demands  to  renounce  the  use  of 
violence  against  Israel  and  agrees 
to  recognize  Israeli  sovereignty. 
Canada  would  cease  direct  funding 
to  the  P.A.  and  reassess  its  contri- 
butions to  the  various  UN  agencies 
that  administer  programs  in  the  ter- 
ritories, funding  that  together  totals 
$25  million  CAD.  Peter  McKay,  min- 
ister of  Foreign  Affairs,  put  it  blunt- 
ly: under  the  current  situation,  "not 
a  red  cent"  will  go  to  Hamas  from 
Canada. 

As  the  largest  employer  in  the 
territories,  the  Palestinian  Author- 
ity relies  on  foreign  aid  to  finance 
its  operations.  The  cutting  off  of  aid 
by  Canada  and  other  Western  coun- 
tries will  severely  hamper  the  P.A.'s 
ability  to  effectively  govern  the  area 
and  will  further  burden  an  already 
fragile  economy.  The  World  Bank 
estimates  the  Palestinian  economy 
will  shrink  by  at  least  27  per  cent  in 
2006  alone  because  of  the  termina- 
tion of  foreign  aid.  This  downturn 
will  have  serious  political,  social 


Many  Palestinians  welcomed  the  Hamas  victory  as  a  vote  against  corruption,  but  Canada  has  refused  to  fund  the  militant  group. 


and  economic  repercussions,  and 
will  likely  serve  to  further  margin- 
alize voices  of  moderation  while 
lending  credence  to  more  extreme 
factions. 

The  parliamentary  elections  that 
brought  Hamas  to  power  have  been 
recognized  by  many  experts  as  be- 
ing as  much  a  vote  against  the  ram- 
pant corruption  of  the  secular-na- 
tionalist Fatah  government  as  they 
were  a  vote  for  the  more  hard-line 
Hamas  party.  This  corruption,  cou- 
pled with  Fatah's  inability  to  bring 
to  an  end  the  four-decade-long  Is- 
raeli occupation,  represented  the 


principal  election  issues — that 
Hamas  is  an  Islamist  party  was  not 
of  immediate  concern  to  many  of 
the  voters. 

While  for  long-term  international 
legitimacy  Hamas'  view  of  Israel 
must  evolve  to  a  more  tenable  po- 
sition, it  is  short-sighted  of  Canada 
to  cut  ties  with  the  nascent  govern- 
ment. Hamas  officials  have  already 
indicated  their  willingness  to  begin 
negotiations  with  Israel  on  the  two- 
state  plan  and  have  re-affirmed  their 
commitment  to  the  year-long  cease- 
fire. In  light  of  these  assurances,  a 
more  effective  Canadian  policy  for 


long-term  peace  would  be  to  encour- 
age these  opportunities  and  foster 
the  beginnings  of  a  dialogue. 

Canada's  cessation  of  economic 
aid  to  the  Palestinian  government 
represents  a  blow  to  both  Pales- 
tinian democracy  and  to  Canada's 
reputation  within  a  region  where  it 
has  historically  been  held  in  high 
regard.  While  our  own  government 
is  also  new,  we  should  hope  that  its 
future  policies  for  the  region  and  be- 
yond are  based  more  on  the  values 
and  interests  of  Canadians  than  on 
the  appeasement  of  our  more  tradi- 
tional allies. 


LETTERS 


Great  minds  don't 
memorize 

Re:  Learned  helplessness 
plagues  exams — and  exam 
writers,  April  6 

The  purpose  of  this  institution  is  to 
sort  the  "thinkers"  from  the  concrete 
learners.  The  only  way  to  show  a 
true  understanding  of  a  concept  is 
being  able  to  apply  it  where  you  see 
fit.  This  is  not  high  school  anymore 
where  you  can  breeze  through  a 
course  just  by  memorizing  the  facts. 
I  know  people  who  did  not  do  well  in 
high  school  but  succeeded  at  U  of  T. 
The  reason  is  simple:  they  don't  like 
to  memorize  but  really  are  thinkers 
who  like  to  solve  problems.  I'm  not 
sure  what  year  in  undergrad  this 
writer  is  from,  but  I  think  the  article 
is  written  by  a  frustrated  student 
who  doesn't  really  understand 
higher  education. 

Karen  Zhou 

Tfie  l/ars/tym\comes  letters  from  our 
readers.  Send  letters  (250  words  max.) 
w/ith  your  full  name  &  phone  number  to: 

opinions@thevarstty.ca 

Opinions  submissions 
are  also  welcome. 


//ONLINE  EXCLUSIVE 


Talk  of  intelligent  design  and 
evolution  has  filled  the  airwaves 
and  school  board  debate  rooms 
in  recent  months,  but  what  do 
these  terms  really  mean?  PETER 
O'HAGAN  looks  at  how  faulty 
nomenclature  can  trap  thinkers  on 
both  sides  of  the  issue,  and  reveals 
that  the  divide  between  science  and 
religion  might  not  be  as  wide  as 
commonly  thought.  See  "Intelligent 
Design  debate  keeps  on  evolving" 
online  at  www.thevarsity.ca 


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2006  5 


KIBBUTZ  XND  THG  Cliy 

Can  a  kibbutz  have  wi-fi?  Can  a  nostalgic,  socialist,  Jewish  ideal  be  adapted  to  Los  Angeles,  New  York,  or  Toronto  in  the 
twenty-first  century?  U  of  T  student  DANIEL  ROTH  has  made  up  his  mind  to  find  out 


In  a  dirty,  run-down  apartment 
in  Sderot,  a  city  in  southern  Is- 
rael, I  first  realized  what  1  would 
have  to  go  through  in  order  to 
live  the  socialist  dream. 

There  were  about  30  of  us  packed 
into  three  tiny  apartments  in  a  de- 
crepit, old  building  in  the  slums.  In 
just  one  night  we  found  out  how  hard 
it  was  to  sleep  four  in  one  room,  with 
not  enough  toilet  paper.  Fights  for 
the  cold,  dirty  shower  began  almost 
immediately. 

We  were  there  because  we  were 
traveling  as  a  group  throughout  Is- 
rael to  find  out  what  it  means  to  live 
in  an  urban  kibbutz — a  version  of 
Israel's  communal  farms  where  all 
wealth  is  shared  equally  that  some 
are  trying  to  adapt  to  North  Ameri- 
can cities. 

We  later  found  out  that  a  group  of 
Israelis  who  had  grown  up  living  on 
a  kibbutz  had  moved  to  these  apart- 
ments and  lived  there  for  a  number 
of  years,  in  the  same  conditions  that 
we  found  hard  to  live  with  for  one 
night — all  for  the  kibbutz  ideal. 

I  am  about  to  graduate  with  a  B.A. 
in  something,  and  all  1  keep  thinking 
about  is  the  fact  that  as  of  this  sum- 
mer, 1  can  do  anything,  or  1  can  do 
nothing.  1  feel  like  I  am  about  to  be 
liberated  in  some  way. 

So  what  am  1  going  to  do  when  I 
graduate? 

Despite  the  hawkish  antics  of  Ariel 
Sharon — and  most  Israeli  leaders  in 
the  past  decade — the  holy  land  has 
potent  socialist  roots.  1  did  a  lot  of 
my  growing  up  at  a  summer  camp 
called  Camp  Shomria.  It  is  a  part  of 
a  worldwide  Socialist-Zionist  youth 
movement  called  Hashomer  Hatzair 
(Socialist-Zionism  being  a  type  of 
socialism  crossed  with  a  belief  that 
Israel  is  the  place  that  the  revolution 
will  happen).  The  camp  was  origi- 
nally a  training  farm  for  youth  who 
were  getting  ready  to  move  to  Israel 
to  live,  and  work,  on  a  Kibbutz  in  Isra- 
el. Though  it  does  not  directly  have 
those  same  goals  anymore,  there  are 
some  nostalgic  aspects  that  remain. 
As  a  group  we  all  clean  the  kitchen, 
the  dining  room,  the  bathrooms, 
and  the  grounds.  We  share  the  work 
equally  in  order  to  instill  moderate 
socialist  values  among  the  mem- 
bers. That's  not  to  say  that  there  isn't 
waterskiing  and  'spin-the-bottle'  like 
other  camps — there's  that,  too. 

For  the  last  20  years  or  so,  Hashom- 
er Hatzair  has  been  quite  successful 
at  instilling  its  values.  We  have  each 
taught  and  been  taught  about  Social- 
ist-Zionism, what  it  means;  for  us, 
it's  a  way  we  can  live  our  lives  as  en- 
lightened individuals  in  a  fucked-up 
world.  We  have,  however,  been  less 
successful  at  fulfilling  the  Socialist- 
Zionist  ideology  beyond  education. 

The  Hebrew  word  for  enacting 
one's  ideology  is  hagshama.  It  rough- 
ly translates  to  "precipitation."  For 
example,  when  moisture  in  the  air 
becomes  rain  it  is  precipitating,  or 
fulfilling  its  nature.  When  a  Social- 
ist-Zionist moves  to  Israel  to  live  and 
work  on  a  kibbutz  it  is  known  as  hag- 
shama. 

What  is  a  kibbutz,  exactly?  It's  a  lit- 
tle socialist  paradise  that  is  general- 
ly self-sustaining,  and  often  centred 
on  some  sort  of  agriculture.  I  know 
what  you're  thinking,  and  yes,  most 
of  them  are  beginning  to  privatize. 
But  does  that  mean  that  the  dream 
is  over? 

The  history  of  Israel  is  crowded 


Left:  A  1930's  urban  kibbutz  at  a  flax  processing  plant  in  Lithuania. 
Below  left:  Inside  one  of  the  first  kibbutzim  in  Israel,  in  the  early  twentieth  cen- 
tury. New  kibbutz-ers  can  be  seen  through  the  window. 


with  different  ideologies,  from  the 
highly  militaristic  to  the  pacifistic, 
from  the  intensely  capitalist  to  the 
most  ardent  socialist.  Socialist-Zion- 
ism was  a  central  ideology  in  build- 
ing Israel  since  the  early  twentieth 
century.  Based  on  the  teachings  of 
thinkers  such  as  Martin  Buber  and 
Ber  Borochov,  young  European  Jews 
began  to  reject  the  idea  of  living  the 
same  old  alienated,  oppressed  life 
as  their  parents  in  industrialized  Eu- 
rope. They  began  to  move  in  droves 
to  Israel  and  experiment  with  so- 
cialist living.  This  meant  tearing  up 
university  degrees  and  becoming 
farmers,  living  in  close  quarters  with 
their  chaverim,  or  fellow  socialists. 
The  goal  was  explicitly  revolution- 
ary; erasing  their  alienation  from  the 
land — and  from  each  other — through 
agricultural  work.  These  early  Social- 
ist-Zionists were  not  religious,  and 
even  in  many  cases  before  the  state 
of  Israel  was  established,  advocated 
a  bi-national  state  for  all  people  in 


the.  region,  regardless  of  ethnicity 
or  religion.  Israel  was,  until  about  30 
years  ago,  very  supportive  of  the  kib- 
butz, as  they  saw  the  importance  of 
creating  their  own  infrastructure  in 
everything  from  farming  to  politics. 

One  of  the  goals  of  living  commu- 
nally is  to  try  and  get  past  the  alien- 
ation that  we  all  know  surrounds  us. 
We  pay  psychologists  to  hear  our 
problems,  but  we  can't  seem  to  com- 
municate those  same  problems  to 
our  closest  friends  and  family.  The 
world  we  live  in  divides  us  along  so 
many  different  lines  until  the  only 
one  that  we  feel  comfortable  with  is 
ourselves,  and  the  only  outlets  for 
making  us  feel  better  about  being 
alone  are  movies,  drugs,  and  shop- 
ping. 

Letting  go  of  material  possessions 
and  reframing  money  as  an  unfortu- 
nate, but  necessary  means  for  sur- 
vival in  this  world  is  an  important 
step  in  discovering  what  is  really  im- 
portant in  life  and  creating  relation- 


ships based  on  people,  not  things. 

So  here's  my  plan.  1  will  join  a 
group  of  about  ten  people  from  my 
movement  and  go  to  go  to  Israel 
this  September  for  a  year  to  create 
what  is  known  as  an  urban  kibbutz. 
Hashomer  Hatzair's  members  as  well 
as  a  number  of  others  have  been  do- 
ing this  for  a  few  years  now,  and  we 
want  to  get  in  on  it. 

A  network  of  urban  kibbutzes  (or 
kibbutzim)  are  sprouting  up  every- 
where. Most  are  being  created  by 
young  Israelis  who  grew  up  in  the 
Socialist-Zionist  movement.  These 
young  people  are  rejecting  the  idea 
that  the  kibbutz  has  to  be  a  rural,  agri- 
cultural entity  and  making  it  relevant 
to  urban  centres.  Importantly,  they 
are  also  moving  them  outside  Israel's 
borders.  The  goal:  to  re-establish  the 
movements  as  movements,  rather 
than  the  stagnant,  overly  nostalgic 
communities  that  they  see  their  par- 
ents' kibbutzim  as  having  become. 

So  what  do  you  do  on  an  urban  kib- 
butz, if  not  farm  the  land?  One  of  the 
major  projects  is  social  work.  This 
can  include  anything  from  working 
with  people  who  live  in  poverty,  to 
doing  activist  projects,  all  while  work- 
ing a  day  job  to  make  sure  the  group 
has  enough  money.  The  groups  tend 
to  put  all,  or  most,  of  their  material 
goods  and  money  into  a  central  pile 
that  the  group  shares. 

The  people  building  this  move- 
ment see  urban  centres  as  the  most 
important  places  to  be.  They  see  the 
old  kibbutz  as  cut  off  from  what's 
really  going  on  in  Israel,  what's  re- 
ally important.  The  old  kibbutz  is  a 
nice  place  to  raise  a  family,  but  the 
city  contains  the  poverty,  the  dirt, 
and  the  things  that  need  to  be  fixed 
today. 

When  I  visited  one  of  these  urban 
kibbutzim,  someone  asked  how  they 
felt  not  doing  agricultural  work,  so 
central  to  the  ideals  of  the  classic 
kibbutz.  Nomika,  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  urban  kibbutz  who  had  lived  in 
those  dingy  apartments  that  1  men- 
tioned above,  replied  that  farming 
was  the  pioneering  work  of  one  hun- 
dred years  ago.  What  is  going  on  now 
is  the  pioneering  work  of  now. 


A  group  of  us  will  start  out  by 
learning  Hebrew  daily,  while  living 
communally.  We  are  going  to  share 
our  money,  our  time,  our  thoughts, 
and  our  feelings. 

The  next  step  is  volunteering.  We 
may  end  up  teaching  or  building. 
We  want  to  work  with  some  part  of 
Israel's  Arab  population.  There  are 
a  number  of  things  we  could  do  to 
help  make  Israel  a  better  place,  but 
working  with  Arabs  seems  appropri- 
ate. Since  we  are  focused  on  ending 
alienation,  why  not  work  with  people 
who  are  the  most  alienated  in  Israeli 
society? 

Many  questions  remain,  and  will 
remain  long  after  this  journey  is 
over.  For  example,  how  relevant  is 
this  going  to  be  for  North  Americans 
who  don't  want  to  move  to  Israel? 
Can  these  networks  grow  here?  Can 
they  be  relevant  for  more  than  a  few 
people? 

I'm  not  sure  if  1  am  carving  out  a 
new  stream,  or  if  I'm  going  against 
the  tide.  I'm  not  even  sure  that  1  won't 
end  up  in  a  stagnant  puddle  waiting 
for  evaporation.  All  1  really  know  is 
that  it's  hard  to  find  something  that 
1  feel  strongly  about,  but  this  might 
be  it.  I'll  just  have  to  do  it  to  find  out, 
since  the  goal  is  to  "precipitate"  my 
ideals.  Theory  must  become  prac- 
tice. 

I'm  not  sure  what  will  happen  af- 
ter this  year.  I  might  stay  there  and 
continue  on,  or  I  might  try  to  bring 
the  revolution  over  here.  I  keep  ask- 
ing myself,  "What  the  fuck  am  I  do- 
ing? Am  1  ready  to  live  in  a  small, 
dirty  apartment,  fighting  over  toilet 
paper?  How  does  a  small  group  of 
twenty-somethings  best  share  the 
little  money  they  have?  Do  1  have 
anything  to  offer  the  people  that  1 
want  to  help?" 

Two  answers  repeat  themselves 
over  and  over  again.  The  first  is  "Holy 
Shit!!"  The  other  one  is,  "I  don't  really 
know  yet." 

1  am  doing  it,  so  1  guess  we'll  see. 

Call  Hashomer  Hatzair  lor  more 
information:  (416)  736-1339.  Useful 
links  can  also  be  found  on  their 
website,  hashomerhatzair.ca. 


6    MONDAY,  MAY  15, 2006 


VARSITY  SCIENCE 


science@thevarsity.ca 


//SCIENCE  IN  BRIEF 


Primordial  bug  debunks 
debate? 

For  decades,  the  origin  of  life  lias  been 
a  subject  of  war  for  two  camps  of  sci- 
entific thought — a  war  that  an  ancient 
undersea  microbe  now  puts  to  rest.  By 
metabolizing  carbon  monoxide  into 
methane  and  vinegar,  this  particular 
specie  (formally  known  as  M.  acetiv- 
orans)  derives  energy  from  a  previ- 
ously unknown  biochemical  process. 
It  was  this  mechanism  that  inspired 
two  laboratories  in  Penn  State  to  sug- 
gest that  life  evolved  to  make  energy 
first  and  foremost,  and  then  evolved 
to  fix  carbon.  As  a  result,  the  two  war- 
ring theories  of  heterotrophic  and 
chemoautotrophic  origins  of  life  may 
be  debunked  entirely  and  further  stud- 
ies into  these  "methane-belching  bugs' 
looms  large. 
-SANDY  HUEN 

Source:  Penn  State  news  service 


Coffee,  tea,  a  camel 
and  me 


Coming  soon  to  drugstores  near  you — 
a  caffeine  thermometer  for  your  steam- 
ing cup  of  joe.  Researchers  in  St.  Louis 
are  developing  a  portable  and  conve- 
nient "dipstick"  to  accurately  measure 
the  amount  of  caffeine  in  a  cup  of  cof- 
fee, tea,  even  soda.  Curiously,  the  caf- 
feine test  is  based  on  the  ability  of  lla- 
mas and  camels  to  produce  antibodies 
that  withstand  the  high  temperatures 
of  a  hot  brewed  beverage — around 
194  degrees  Fahrenheit.  By  injecting 
the  animals  with  a  caffeine-linked  pro- 
tein, the  researchers  were  able  to  elicit 
an  immune  response  and  isolate  the 
antibody  responsible.  The  caffeine- 
specific  antibody  reacts  little  with 
other  caffeine-like  compounds  in  teas 
and  hence  measures  caffeine  content 
with  high  accuracy.  And  now  that  the 
antibody  sequence  has  been  isolated, 
producing  portable  caffeine  thermom- 
eters on  par  with  the  more  sophisticat- 
ed equipment  is  only  a  stone's  throw 
away. 
-S.H. 

Source:  Washington  University  School 
of  Medicine  news  service. 

We  prescribe  daily  light 
exercise 

What  can  travel  faster  than  the  speed 
of  light?  According  to  researchers  at 
the  University  of  Rochester,  the  answer 
is  light  in  reverse.  Theory  had  long  pre- 
dicted that  light  could  be  sent  back- 
wards, but  observing  the  phenomenon 
itself  was  another  matter  entirely.  The 
same  team  had  recently  demonstrated 
light  slower  than  an  airplane,  then  light 
faster  than  light  itself.  Now,  with  the 
mathematical  oddity  of  negative  speed 
proven  faster  than  light,  what  will  the 
next  exercise  in  light  be? 
-S.H. 

Source:  Science 


// ONLINE  EXCLUSIVES 


Log  in: 

Check  out  www.thevarsity.ca 
on  May  17th  for  an  online  exclusive 
of  JANE  GOODALL's  Natural  City 
lecture  at  Con  Hall. 


Salamanders  scurry  about  UTM 

The  Jefferson  salamander  is  looking  for  a  habitat  -preferably  one  in  southwestern  Ontario  with  a  forest 
of  elm,  oak,  maple,  and  a  cozy  pond  for  breeding.  Luckily,  UTM  fits  the  bill  -SABEEN  ABBAS  reports. 


The  Streetsville  area  of  Missis- 
sauga  is  home  to  one  of  the  few 
remaining  populations  of  the 
threatened  Jefferson  salamander.  As 
the  first  identified  Canadian  popula- 
tion, the  UTM  site  was  stumbled  upon 
in  1976  by  an  Erindale  graduate  stu- 
dent researching  his  thesis.  Recently, 
urban  expansion  and  development 
in  southwestern  Ontario  destroys 
and  degrades  the  habitat  of  the  Jef- 
ferson salamander,  threatening  its 
existence. 

Since  their  discovery,  the  Jefferson 
salamanders  act  as  indicator  species, 
signalling  the  health  of  the  entire  eco- 
system. 

"Since  the  adult  salamanders 
live  largely  underground  in  natural 
cavities  in  undisturbed  forest  floors, 
their  presence  is  a  guaranteed  indi- 
cator that  the  land  around  them  has 
been  relatively  undisturbed  for  quite 
awhile,"  writes  associate  professor 
Nicholas  Collins  of  the  biology  de- 
partment at  UTM  in  an  email  corre- 
spondence. 

Data  suggests  the  existence  of  13 
sites  in  three  main  areas  of  southern 
Ontario.  At  the  UTM  site.  Environ- 
ment Canada  and  Credit  Valley  Con- 
servation will  fund  research  by  UTM 
faculty  and  students  to  understand 
the  biology  of  the  secretive  salaman- 
ders. Their  research  aims  to  deter- 
mine whether  the  current  population 
is  healthy  and  if  the  breeding  pond  is 
in  danger  of  filling  in  or  otherwise  be- 
coming unsuitable  for  the  population. 

"We're  also  measuring  how  often 
the  area  inhabited  by  the  salaman- 
ders is  disturbed  by  people  and  pets, 
and  doing  some  inventories  of  micro- 
habitats  known  to  be  used  by  the  sala- 
manders," says  Collins. 

With  a  lifespan  of  up  to  30  years, 
female  and  male  salamanders  breed 
in  late  March.  Salamanders  spend  the 
rest  of  the  summer  and  fall  in  the  for- 


For  the  threatened  Jefferson  salamander,  limited  housing  is  a  problem  researchers  at  UTM  strive  to  solve.  And  being  protected  by 
law  against  harassment,  studying  the  salamanders  proves  a  challenge  to  biologists  and  reporters  alike. 


ested  areas  surrounding  the  breed- 
ing pond  and  winter  in  underground 
sites.  Survival  rates  for  both  larvae 
and  young  Jefferson  salamanders  are 
unknown. 

"The  populations  are,  as  far  as  I 
know,  relatively  local  and  small,  so 
that  if  they  go  extinct,  the  site  is  un- 
likely to  be  re-colonized.  Bottom  line 
is,  if  they  are  there  now,  that's  good 
evidence  of  a  relatively  continuous 
long-term  stable  condition  in  the  im- 
mediate area,"  says  Collins. 

Small  populations  are  susceptible 
to  local  extinction  due  to  chance 


events  such  as  floods,  fire,  or  other 
catastrophes.  At  the  UTM  site,  cur- 
rent population  size  and  trends  are 
unknown. 

The  presence  of  triploid  individuals 
in  the  population  further  complicates 
our  understanding  of  salamander 
populations.  Jefferson  salamanders 
interbreed  with  the  closely  related 
Blue-Spotted  salamanders  to  produce 
hybrid  offspring.  The  offspring  contain 
a  triploid  chromosome  number,  two 
copies  from  the  Jefferson  salamander 
and  one  copy  from  the  Blue-spotted 
salamander.  Hybrids  are  difficult  to 


distinguish  from  the  parent  species 
by  sight  alone.  That  means  identifica- 
tion of  the  Jefferson  salamander  often 
requires  genetic  analysis. 

In  order  to  reverse  the  habitation 
threats  to  the  salamander  population, 
Dr.  Collins  suggests  that,  "minimal 
disruption  or  change  and  vigilance  to 
recognize  subtle  negative  influences 
is  needed." 

The  Jefferson  salamander  is  listed 
in  the  Ontario  Fish  and  Wildlife  Con- 
servation Act,  which  protects  the  Jef- 
ferson salamander  against  killing,  ha- 
rassment or  capture. 


When  science  bites  back 


Sandy  Huen 

SCIENCE  EDITOR 


The  New  Scientist  has  long  boast- 
ed its  ability  to  entice  any  kind  of 
reader,  from  the  would-be  scientist 
to  the  Nobel-laureate,  a  fact  that  is 
all  the  more  evident  in  their  newly 
released  and  international  best- 
seller. Does  Anything  Eat  Wasps? 

The  book  is  a  compilation  of 
popular  science  questions  written 
entirely  by  readers  of  the  New  Sci- 
entist. 

"We  get  questions  from  all 
around  the  world  from  our  read- 
ers," explains  Ivan  Semeniuk,  U.S. 
Bureau  Chief  for  New  Scientist  and 
U  of  T  alumnus.  These  questions 
range  anywhere  from  poignant 
contemplations  on  our  universe 
to  the  bodily  science  of  exactly 
how  long  a  person  can  live  on  beer 
alone. 

"Instead  of  doing  the  obvious 
thing,  which  is  to  find  some  world 
expert. ..we  actually  throw  the 
question  back  to  the  readers  and 
they  themselves  answer  the  ques- 
tions." 

And  with  a  worldwide  commu- 
nity of  science  know-it-alls  at  their 
fingertips,  the  New  Scientist  picks 
out  the  better  answers — or  the 


most  entertaining — and  publishes 
it  in  their  latest  issue. 

"We  have  this  column  in  the 
magazine  called  the  'Last  Word'," 
Semeniuk  says.  "It's  really  almost 
like  a  competition  to  have  the  last 
word,  literally.  Who  can  give  the 
best  explanation?" 

Of  course,  the  best  explanations 
are  not  always  written  by  your 
neighbourhood  PhD  candidate,  but 
by  the  soccer  mom  or  determined 
6th  grader  writing  in  the  spirit  of 
fun  and  curiosity. 


"We  actually  had  one  question 
that  led  to  a  scientific  paper,"  Se- 
meniuk says. 

The  question  dealt  with  Tia  Ma- 
ria, a  coffee  liqueur,  and  its  curious 
reaction  when  introduced  with  18 
per  cent  table  cream.  Readers  had 
decided  the  pattern  of  mixing  was 
due  to  the  alcohol  and  fat  in  the 
cream  reacting — and  were  ousted 
by  a  team  of  mystified  physicists  in 
Spain  and  California. 

"They  did  an  intensive  labora- 
tory study  with  Tia  Maria  and  with 


other  pure  substances  and  it  led 
to  a  paper  about  exactly  what  the 
phenomenon  was  doing,"  Semeni- 
uk enthuses. 

"We're  drawing  on  a  really  eclec- 
tic and  diverse  readership  to  do 
the  explaining  for  us  and  some 
of  them  are  fantastic,"  Semeniuk 
says.  "There's  a  certain  energy  to 
the  column  that  never  seems  to  go 
away  because  you're  always  hear- 
ing those  different  voices." 

With  readership  at  over  half  a 
million,  the  fast  pace  of  the  'Last 
Word'  and  Does  Anything  Eat 
Wasps?  is  translating  to  a  growing 
global  interest  into  the  science  of 
life — or  of  booze. 

"There's  an  inordinate  number 
of  questions  about  alcohol  which 
reflects  the  British  base  of  the 
magazine,"  Semeniuk  comments. 

But  one  question  remains:  can 
we  trust  these  explanations  to  be 
scientifically  correct?  After  all, 
booze,  not  to  mention  that  beer- 
only  diet,  is  a  subject  of  unusual 
fondness  among  university  cam- 
puses. Can  we  really  trust  this 
motley  crew  of  scientists  and  sci- 
entist-wannabes to  be  right? 

"Yes,"  Semeniuk  confirms.  "As 
much  as  you  can  trust  any  roomful 
of  scientists." 


review@thevarsity.ca 


MONDAY,  MAY  15, 2006  7 


What's  Up,  Hot  Doc? 


Red  hot  doc  test  heats  up 


Radheyan  Simonpillai 

FILM  CRITIC 


U  of  T's  St.  George  campus  was  buzz- 
ing at  the  dawn  of  May,  and  it  wasn't 
because  of  exams.  Television  crews 
hosted  interviews  amid  the  school's 
historic  sites,  and  long  line-ups  of  film 
aficionados  stretched  around  venues 
like  the  Isabel  Bader  Theatre  and  Innis 
Town  Hall.  What  was  all  this  swanky 
commotion  about?  Hot  Docs! 

Now  in  its  13th  year,  and  premier- 
ing  101  international  documentaries. 
Hot  Docs  serves  as  a  launch  pad  for 
films  seeking  industry  attention,  and 
is  renowned  for  being  North  America's 
largest  documentary  festival. 

With  box  office  figures  for  docu- 
mentary films  on  the  rise  following  the 
success  of  Michael  Moore's  Bowling 
for  Columbine  and  Fahrenheit  911  (and 
those  blasted  marching  penguins) 
it  is  no  coincidence  that  Hot  Docs  is 
celebrating  a  record  year.  Attendance 
at  the  festival  has  risen  by  25  percent 
with  50,000  audience  members  and 
1,800  industry  reps  showing  up  at  the 
screenings. 

The  festival  even  garnered  the  at- 
tention of  Hollywood  A-listers  Dustin 
Hoffman,  Natalie  Portman,  and  Gael 
Garcia  Bernal  who  all  turned  up  for  the 
screening  of  Wordplay. 

The  success  of  Hot  Docs,  and  docu- 
mentary films  in  general,  is  a  testa- 
ment to  the  fact  that  images  of  the  real 
world  are  more  engaging  than  most 
Hollywood  concoctions.  And  with  the 
current  events  being  as  interesting  as 
they  are,  there  is  a  good  chance  that 
the  festival's  success  will  continue. 

So  without  further  adieu,  here's  the 
low  down  on  what's  hot,  and  what's  not 
at  this  year's  Hot  Docs. 

Fuck 

(dir.  Steve  Anderson) 

Fuck  you.  Fuck  me.  Fuck  off.  These 
phrases  and  more  are  discussed  in 
first-time  filmmaker  Steve  Anderson's 
look  at  the  queen  mother  of  all  dirty 
words,  the  f-bomb.  Comedians,  lin- 
guists, gonzo  journalists,  reverends, 
and  rappers  alike  weighed  in  on  the 
implications  of  what  the  word  means 
to  a  rapidly  dividing  America.  The  big- 
gest laughs  from  the  sold-out  Friday 
screening  came  from  talking  head  Pat 
Boone,  a  conservative  1950's  heart- 
throb-turned-born-again  Christian 
suggesting  that  his  own  surname  be 
substituted  instead  of  the  almighty 
curse  word  itself.  (Somehow,  "We  got 
totally  booned  last  night!"  just  doesn't 
sound  as  satisfying...)  While  Ander- 
son's documentary  is  an  entertaining 
look  at  language,  U.S.  political  anxiet- 
ies, and  human  repression,  too  much 
reliance  on  flashy  graphics  and  anima- 
tion stoped  the  viewer  from  grasping 
the  core  message.  Essentially,  when  it 
comes  to  America,  we're  fucked  either 
way— CHANDLER  LEVACK 

Rating:  VW":^ " 

The  Railroad  Allstars 

(dir.  Cfiema  Rodriguez) 

How  do  two-dollar  hookers  raise 
awareness  of  the  violence  their  oc- 
cupation invites?  Playing  soccer  may 
not  seem  like  the  obvious  answer,  but 
that's  exactly  what  a  group  of  South 
American  prostitutes  do  in  Chema 
Rodriguez's  film.  The  Railroad  Allstars. 
Hailing  from  a  degenerate  wasteland 
by  some  Guatemalan  train  tracks, 
where  protection  is  a  perpetual  dream 
and  respect  is  a  passing  notion,  the 
ensemble  of  surprisingly  articulate 


women  turn  to  competition  to  win  at- 
tention for  their  cause.  However,  even 
playing  soccer  turns  out  to  be  prob- 
lematic for  the  women  of  ill  repute, 
since  their  cause  is  one  which  society 
would  rather  ignore.  Rodriguez's  film 
exhibits  a  profound  admiration  for  the 
group,  who  maintain  a  buoyant  nature 
despite  the  sordid  conditions  they  en- 
dure. Even  though  the  ladies  never  win 
a  game,  their  relentless  hope  is  noth- 
ing short  of  inspirational.  — RADHEYAN 
SIMONPILLAI 

Rating:  VYVv¥ 

The  World  According  to  Sesame 
Street 

(dir.  Linda  Goldstein  Knowlton,  Linda 
Hawkins) 

With  all  the  horrors  and  tragedies  in 
the  world  today,  we  need  films  like 
this  to  restore  faith  in  the  human  race. 
This  beautiful,  wonderful  work  docu- 
ments the  evolving  history  of  Sesame 
Street.  The  film  focuses  on  Sesame  co- 
productions  in  Bangladesh,  Kosovo, 
and  South  Africa,  and  the  people  who 
come  together  in  those  areas  to  give 
hope  to  some  of  the  world's  most  dis- 
advantaged children.  A  message  of 
mutual  respect  and  hope  for  a  better 
future  combine  with  the  basic  edu- 
cational agenda  of  Sesame  Street,  but 


in  formats  tailored  to  each  specific 
country.  Design  teams  from  both  the 
United  States  and  the  co-production 
countries  create  indigenous  Muppets 
and  "Streets",  with  local  languages 
being  dubbed  over  classic  American 
segments.  Towards  the  end  of  the  film, 
a  village  square  in  a  Bengali  town  is 
shown  crowded  with  children,  waiting 
excitedly  as  a  man  wheels  in  a  televi- 
sion on  a  cart.  He  attaches  the  set  to 
a  car  battery,  and  the  faces  of  the  kids 
light  up  as  Sesame  Street  comes  to  life 
on  the  screen.  The  children's  beaming 
faces  were  aptly  mirrored  by  those  of 
the  audience  at  the  screening  of  this 
charming  and  affecting  film. 
—JENNIFER  FABRO 

Rating:  WWV 

Citadel 

(dir.  Atom  Egoyan) 

We've  all  been  there.  You're  a  guest  in 
someone's  home,  and  all  of  a  sudden 
it  happens.  You're  abruptly  forced  to 
take  a  seat  in  the  living  room  while 
the  bubbly  host  readies  the  VCR,  DVD 
player  or  (if  you're  really  unlucky)  slide 
projector  and  subjects  you  to  an  in- 
depth  analysis  of  his  family  vacation 
to  God-knows-where.  Sitting  there,  you 
can't  help  but  think  to  yourself,  "Why 
am  I  watching  this?"  So,  you  crank  up 


that  smile  and  feign  interest  while  he 
describes  why  he  shot  this  and  that, 
and  then  tries  to  muster  up  some  rev- 
elation or  deeper  meaning  about  the 
trip,  as  if  going  on  vacation  requires  a 
grand  justification!  This  is  exactly  what 
watching  Atom  Egoyan's  recalibrated 
travelogue.  Citadel,  is  like.  Essentially  it 
is  a  collection  of  home  videos  that  the 
celebrated  director  shot  on  his  family's 
trip  to  Lebanon  edited  together  as  an 
experiment  in  the  documentary  genre. 
Egoyan,  whose  impressive  body  of 
work  (which  includes  the  acclaimed 
films  Exotica,  The  Sweet  Hereafter) 
could  lure  many  an  unsuspecting  cine- 
phile  to  a  theatre  seat,  positions  the 
film  as  both  a  love  song  to  his  wife  and 
a  future  epistle  to  his  son.  With  self- 
deprecating  humour  that  rarely  hits 
the  mark,  this  dry  exercise  of  Ego's 
own  flatulence  falls  fabulously  flat. 
Maybe  you  just  had  to  be  there.  — RS 

Rating:  VvW 

Uganda  Rising 

(din  Jesse  James  Miller,  Pete  McCormack) 

Not  for  the  faint  of  heart,  Uganda  Ris- 
ing aims  to  expose  viewers  to  the 
graphic  violence  and  ongoing  ethnic 
strife  which  still  occur  in  what  many 
people  wrongly  assume  is  a  stable  Af- 
rican nation.  While  filmmakers  Jesse 


James  Miller  and  Pete  McCormack  re- 
trace the  missteps  towards  massacre 
back  to  the  arbitrary  borders  drawn 
by  British  colonial  overseers,  the  film's 
main  focus  is  the  disturbing  practice  of 
child  conscription.  Since  armed  con- 
flict broke  out  between  Government 
troops  under  the  command  of  former 
rebel  Yoweri  Museveni  and  a  new  rebel 
faction  called  The  Lord's  Resistance 
Army  in  1986,  the  LRA  has  succeeded 
in  abducting  more  than  twenty-five 
thousand  children  from  crowded  dis- 
placement camps  in  Northern  Uganda. 
Apparently  receiving  his  gruesome 
orders  from  God,  the  LRA's  prophetic 
leader  Joseph  Kony  forces  these  "new 
recruits" — some  as  young  as  ten — to 
commit  acts  of  unimaginable  horror 
against  their  own  families,  enemies  of 
the  LRA,  captured  civilians  and  even 
each  other.  The  idea  being  to  force- 
fashion  large  groups  of  impression- 
able children  into  masochistic  killing 
machines.  One  young  abduction  sur- 
vivor recalls  how  he  was  forced — with 
an  AK-47  trained  on  his  head — to  cut 
down  a  large  tree  with  a  machete  and 
then  use  the  thick  branches  to  smash 
the  heads  of  seven  captured  villagers. 
Once  the  seven  were  bludgeoned  to 
death  he  was  forced  to  lick  the  bloody 
brain  matter  that  spilt  from  the  heads 
of  each  of  his  victims.  He  was  only  thir- 
teen at  the  time.  Cut  together  with  ex- 
pert interviews  from  politico  luminar- 
ies Noam  Chomsky  and  Canada's  own 
Lloyd  Axworthy,  the  horror  of  Uganda 
Rising  makes  everyday  grief  (like  the 
high  price  of  theatre  popcorn)  seem 
totally  absurd.  —JORDAN  BIMM 

Rating:  VWW 


Wordplay 

(din  Patrick  Creadon) 

Who  would  have  thought  that  a  docu- 
mentary about  one  of  the  most  solitary 
American  pastimes  could  become  the 
hottest  commodity  on  the  festival  cir- 
cuit? However,  that's  just  what  Patrick 
Creadon's  festive  ode  to  the  crossword 
puzzle  does.  The  film  pivots  itself 
on  the  antics  of  the  New  York  Times 
crossword  editor.  Will  Shortz,  who 
graduated  from  Indiana  University  in 
a  program  of  his  own  design — enigma- 
tology!  Moving  letter  by  letter  through 
Shortz's  eccentric  workflow  and  show- 
ing the  enthusiastic  reception  the  puz- 
zles get  from  his  legion  of  fans  (who 
include  Jon  Stewart  and  Bill  Clinton) 
Wordplay  comically  reveals  how  one 
of  the  most  overlooked  cultural  diver- 
sions is  to  many  nothing  short  of  a  re- 
ligious devotion.  Within  this  covenant  , 
we  get  to  know  the  "puzzle  gurus,"  who 
are  to  the  crossword  what  Trekkies 
are  to  the  Starship  Enterprise.  These 
individuals  gather  annually  at  Shortz' 
American  Crossword  Puzzle  Tourna- 
ment, a  showdown  that  feels  less  like 
pencil  and  paper  drudgery  and  more 
like  the  100-metre  dash.  Just  like  its 
subject  matter.  Wordplay  may  amount 
to  an  insignificant  passing  of  time,  but 
its  a  rollicking  good  one  at  that.  As 
for  the  final  verdict  on  the  film,  here's 

a  clue:  Marvel's   Four. 

— RS 


Rating:  WW^/ 


//ONLINE  EXCLUSIVES 


Visit  www.thevarsity.ca  for: 

•  More  Hot  Docs  reviews 

•  CD  reviews  of  Cities  in  Dust,  The 
Coast,  Faktion  and  Tokyo  Police  Club 


8    MONDAY,  MAY  15,  2006 


VARSITY  SPORTS 


sports@thevarsity.ca 


The  quack  is  back 

Who's  hot  and  who's  not  in  the  NHL  playoffs . 


Justin  Panos 


With  this  year's  Conference  Semi- 
final picture  merely  brush  stroi<es 
away  from  being  completed,  here 
is  a  rundown  on  what  has  been 
hot,  and  not,  in  the  NHL  playoffs 
thus  far. 

Hot  Team  from  the  West: 
The  Anaheim  Ducks 

Their  sweep  of  the  once-mighty 
Colorado  Avalanche  Thursday 
night  caused  a  few  eye-popping 
headlines  as  the  Ducks  were  the 
first  of  four  teams  to  advance  to 
the  conference  finals.  Anaheim 
will  have  at  least  a  week  before 
they  face  their  Western  counter- 
part, the  survivor  of  the  Edmonton 
and  San  Jose  series,  and  whoever 
emerges  will  undoubtedly  be  in  for 
a  rough  time. 

Mind-Numbingly  Hot: 
The  Duck's  Flying  D 

As  any  NHL  historian  can  attest, 
a  good  defense  held  by  stalwart 
goal-keeping  is  the  first  ingredient 
in  a  championship  team.  Headed 
by  streaking  rookie  goalie  Igor 
Bryzgalov,  the  Ducks  negated  Col- 
orado's power-play  24  times  and 
have  reached  a  staggering  total  of 
36  consecutive  penalties  killed  in 
the  playoffs.  Bryzgalov's  outstand- 
ing performance,  two  shutouts  to 
add  to  his  249  minutes  of  scoreless 
playoff  hockey,  two  road  wins,  and 
40  shots  saved  in  the  series  clinch- 
er, echoes  the  replaced  Jean-Se- 


While  goalie  Dominick  Hasek  is  known  for  his  icy  grip  on  the  puck  and  freezing  opposing  offences,  his  grip  on  the  ice-pack  has  let 
down  the  Ottawa  Senators  this  postseason. 


bastien  Giguere's  unconsciously 
solid  net-minding  in  Anaheim's 
2003  postseason.  A  little  offense 
helps  too,  and  thanks  to  winger 
Jeffrey  Lupul's  four-goal  night  in 
game  three's  overtime  victory,  the 
Ducks  can  sit  and  await  the  oppo- 
sition. 


Not  Hot  Enough  To  Trot: 
The  San  Jose  sharks 

After  going  up  two  games,  the  Sharks 
lost  the  following  two  at  Edmonton 
in  gut-punching  fashion.  Oiler  Shawn 
Horcpff  buried  the  winning  goal  in 
the  third  period  of  overtime  in  game 
three,  and  the  Sharks  gave  up  three 


goals  in  the  third  period  of  Edmon- 
ton's 6-3  win  Friday  to  even  the  series 
at  2-2.  San  Jose  had  to  be  disheart- 
ened after  playing  42  overtime  min- 
utes with  nothing  to  show  for  it,  and 
then  let  game  four  get  out  of  hand  in 
a  big  away.  The  Oilers  are  riding  the 
momentum  train  and  it  might  be  too 


strong  for  the  Sharks  to  derail. 

Player  Too  Busy  Icing  Groin  To  Be 
Hot:  Dominick  Hasek 

With  Hasek  in  between  the  pipes, 
pre-season  prognosticators  pegged 
the  Sens  as  the  top  team  in  the  East- 
ern Conference.  Hasek  was  unable  to 
return  from  a  groin  injury  suffered  in 
February's  Olympics,  and  the  series 
with  Buffalo  showed  how  valuable  he 
could  have  been.  Each  of  the  games 
played  were  decided  by  one  goal, 
three  of  them  in  overtime,  and  Otta- 
wa lost  all  of  their  home  games.  In  the 
end  bad  luck,  coupled  with  Buffalo's 
speed  in  Daniel  Briere  and  Maxim 
Afinoganov,  foiled  the  Senators  run 
for  the  Cup. 


Hot  Team  from  the  East: 
The  Carolina  Hurricanes 

While  the  New  Jersey  Devils  took 
game  four  because  they  were  able 
to  exploit  Carolina's  sloppy  play,  the 
Hurricanes  have  been  doing  it  all 
series.  Falling  prey  to  a  bevy  of  bad 
bounces,  the  Devils  lost  their  first 
round  lustre  and  looked  nothing  like 
the  team  that  disbanded  the  New 
York  Rangers  in  four.  The  Hurricanes 
have  been  getting  production  from 
their  stars  Rob  Brind'Amour  and  Eric 
Staal,  and  back-up  goalie  Cam  Ward 
has  garnered  an  incredible  L87  goals 
against  average  in  the  postseason. 
With  the  Hurricanes  putting  New 
Jersey  to  bed  last  night,  I  reckon  they 
will  squeak  by  the  Sabres  to  face  Ana- 
heim in  the  final. 


CORRECTION  :  On  the  April  6  issue  of  The  Varsity,  we  published  a 
photo  of  Miss  Universe  Canada  2006  that  captioned  her  as  Natalie 
Glebova.  In  actuality  that  was  Alice  Panikian,  while  Miss  Glebova  was 
the  2005  winner.  The  Varsity  regrets  the  error. 


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Domo  Gozaimasu, 
Japanese  Basketball 


Christophe  Poirier 

SPORTS  EDITOR 


Men's  Basketball  returned  from  a 
week-long  exhibition  tour  of  Japan 
Wednesday,  going  3-0  against  their 
Japanese  counterparts.  The  Blues 
coasted  on  the  court  during  the 
trip,  out-playing  the  opposition  on 
the  boards  and  on  the  perimeter  as 
they  defeated  University  of  Tsukuba 
82-78,  University  of  Tokai  65-52,  and 


Tohoku  Gakuin  University  94-78 
over  the  past  week.  Forward  Mike 
Williams,  who  notched  62  points 
in  the  three  games,  led  the  Blues  in 
scoring. 

Using  a  shortened  nine-man  ro- 
tation during  the  exhibition  series 
due  to  an  influx  of  injuries  and 
exam  conflicts,  the  Blues  were  able 
to  limit  their  Japanese  opponents 
despite  the  shortened  bench  and 
jet  lag.  Head  coach  Mike  Katz  cited 


the  team  effort  needed  in  the  three 
victories,  along  with  the  team's  size 
and  consistant  perimeter  defence 
as  key  measures  in  attaining  the  un- 
defeated record. 

The  Blues  went  16-8  last  season 
in  Ontario  University  Athletic  play, 
ending  a  17-year  drought  of  15  wins 
or  less,  but  lost  in  the  quarter-finals 
to  Queen's  Golden  Gaels.  Williams 
was  named  Defensive  Player  of  the 
Year  in  the  OUA  East. 


OUA  votes  yea  on  first  year 
athletic  awards 


Christophe  Poirier 

SPORTS  EDITOR 


In  what  was  deemed  a  "significant 
day  in  OUA  history"  by  its  outgoing 
president  David  Dubois,  the  Ontario 
University  Athletics  institutions  will 
allow  first-year  Athletic  Financial 
Awards  when  the  2007/2008  season 
commences. 

The  OUA's  Board  of  Directors  voted 
16-3  Wednesday  to  allow  entering  stu- 
dent-athletes the  chance  to  receive 
$3,500  annually  from  their  university. 
Students  eligible  would  have  yet  to 
complete  two  full  semesters  of  study 


in  one  academic  year  at  the  Cana- 
dian university  they  are  attending, 
and  have  an  average  of  at  least  80  per 
cent.  By  allowing  first  year  students 
the  chance  to  reap  athletic  awards, 
coaches  will  be  able  to  recruit  more 
highly  sought  after  players. 


The  move,  which  had  been  op- 
posed in  past  years  under  the  notion 
that  it  would  foster  athlete-first  envi- 
ronments, maintains  the  OUA's  persis- 
tence in  acquiring  the  best  and  bright- 
est student-athletes,  Dubois  said. 

"It  is  clear  that  our  student  ath- 
letes are  intelligent,  hard-working 
individuals  in  both  the  classroom 
and  on  the  playing  field,"  he  said  in  a 
press  release.  "If  first-year  students 
can  receive  academic  awards,  then  it 
only  makes  sense  that  those  athletes 
who  meet  the  strict  requirements  of 
our  universities  be  rewarded  for  their 
achievements,  as  well." 


theVARSlTY 


MONDAY,  JUNE  19, 2006 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  TORONTO'S  STUDENT  NEWSPAPER  SINCE  1880 


This  November,  Bahar  Aminvaziri,  a  U  of  T  Engineering  graduate  student  who  was  selected  as  North  Yorlt's  City  Idol,  dreams  of  injecting  life  into  city  policy. 

STORMING  CITY  HALL 


Malcolm  Johnston 

ASSOCIATE  NEWS  EDITOR 


Put  one  hundred  political  junkies  up  on 
stage,  have  them  debate  policy,  deliver 
speeches,  and  field  questions  from  the 
media,  then  have  the  audience  vote  for 
their  favourite  contender.  The  prize? 
Lots  of  publicity  and  a  team  of  volun- 
teers to  assist  the  winners'  campaigns 
for  Toronto  city  council.  Think  of  it  as 
Canadian  Idol  gone  political. 

And  a  U  of  T  student  has  taken  one  of 
the  top  spots. 

After  seeing  a  mere  38  per  cent  of 
voters  turn  up  at  the  last  municipal 
election,  and  seeing  how  many  can- 
didates for  city  council  become  ac- 
claimed due  to  lack  of  competition,  city 


busybody  Dave  Meslin  felt  compelled 
to  jumpstart  civic  interest  in  municipal 
politics. 

eslin  created  the  City  Idol  compe- 
tition, part  of  a  larger  project  called 
"Who  Runs  This  Town?"  to  buck  the 
apathy  trend  and  stimulate  voter  turn- 
out. 

"From  the  air  we  breathe,  to  the 
water  we  drink  to  the  quality  of  our 
workplace  and  neighbourhoods,  po- 
litical decisions  impact  our  daily  lives," 
said  Meslin.  "Yet,  so  many  people  have 
tuned  out  of  the  process.  We're  trying 
to  inject  a  new  energy  into  local  poli- 
tics to  get  more  people  involved." 

But  the  competition  isn't  about  find- 
ing that  experienced  political  hand 
hiding  in  the  woodwork  (in  fact,  in  this 


race,  experience  in  politics  may  even 
be  a  hindrance).  City  Idol  is  about  lo- 
cating the  candidate,  experienced  or 
not,  who  shows  the  right  amount  of  en- 
thusiasm, optimism,  and  knowledge — 
and  a  desire  to  make  the  city  better 

Enter  Bahar  Aminvaziri. 

The  27-year-old  U  of  T  Engineering 
grad  student  became  the  first  of  four 
winners  of  the  competition  June  3, 
beating  out  a  field  of  five  (very)  quali- 
fied candidates  to  become  the  City  Idol 
representative  of  North  York. 

To  hear  Meslin  tell  it,  Aminvaziri  em- 
bodies what  City  Idol  is  all  about. 

"Bahar  is  incredibly  enthusiastic 
about  the  issues  and  committed  to 
making  a  difference,"  he  said.  "She  has 
a  lot  of  knowledge  about  local  environ- 


mental issues  such  as  waste  manage- 
ment and  energy  conservation,  as  well 
as  an  understanding  of  social  justice 
issues  such  as  homelessness  and  child 
poverty." 

An  immigrant  from  Tehran,  Iran, 
the  reserved  Aminvaziri,  though  a  po- 
litical greenhorn,  is  not  immature  nor 
are  her  ideas  simplistic.  Rather,  she's 
professional,  astoundingly  polite  and 
extremely  busy.  Before  she  entered  the 
political  fray,  Aminvaziri  was  already 
balancing  graduate  studies  with  a  full- 
time  job  at  the  Ministry  of  the  Environ- 
ment. She  will  now  fit  campaigning  into 
her  schedule. 

What  is  most  striking  when  speaking 

SEE 'IDOL' -PG  3 


Flashy  food  franchises  coming  to  campus 


Mike  Ghenu  &  Smita  Saxena 

VARSITY  STAFF  

Several  new  Booster  Juice  locations, 
expanded  and  additional  Starbucks 
and  Tim  Morton's  outlets,  and  maybe 
even  a  Subway  franchise  will  all  be  vy- 
ing for  your  student  buck  in  the  com- 
ing year — on  campus. 

"Our  objective  is  to  bring  back  the 
campus  population  to  eat,"  said  Mi- 
chael Oschefski,  the  executive  vice- 
president  and  general  manager  of 
Aramark  Canada  Services.  His  com- 
pany was  selected  by  the  university 
last  month  to  provide  food  services 
on  St.  George  campus  for  a  period  of 
10  years,  starting  Aug.  1. 

Aramark  will  run  all  the  major  food 
outlets  in  university  buildings,  with 
the  exception  of  Hart  House  and  Uni- 
versity College.  Already,  the  company 
is  planning  a  series  of  food  service  im- 
provements, Oschefski  said.  The  bulk 


of  these  will  come  on-stream  during 
the  company's  first  two  years  on  cam- 
pus. 

At  New  College,  Aramark's  "fresh 
deli"  and  "produce  market"  con- 
cepts will  be  introduced,  along  with 
some  new  tables  and  seats,  colour- 
ful wall  coverings,  and  livelier  colour 
schemes. 

"It's  going  to  be  more  exciting,  more 
fun  for  everybody,"  Oschefski  com- 
mented. 

Coffee  outlets  in  the  Medical  Scienc- 
es Building  will  also  be  grow.  "In  year 
one  there's  going  to  be  an  expansion 
of  the  Tim  Horton's  into  an  atrium  out 
front,"  said  Oschefski.  "We're  going  to 
put  a  new  Starbucks  inside,  and  we're 
going  to  completely  re-do  the  seating 
area."  At  Robarts,  a  "Miso  concept" 
will  be  added.  The  Starbucks  there 
will  be  expanded. 

In  campus  cafeterias,  Aramark  will 
replace  styrofoam  dishes  with  biode- 


gradable ones,  and  is  examining  ways 
to  source  certain  produce  locally.  Caf- 
eteria seating  areas  will  feature  new 
32-inch  LCD  screens,  which  will  be 
displaying  news  and  university  infor- 
mation, as  well  as  "promoting  prod- 
ucts," as  Oschefski  put  it. 

While  noting  that  campus  food 
staff  will  grow  to  about  240,  Oschefski 
declined  to  comment  on  Aramark's 
ongoing  dealings  with  the  union  that 
represents  U  of  T's  food  service  em- 
ployees, who  work  for  outgoing  food 
provider  Sodexho. 

"There's  just  a  couple  of  things  in 
the  collective  agreement  we  have 
to  deal  with.  Remember,  it's  not  our 
collective  agreement — it's  another 
company's  collective  agreement,"  he 
pointed  out.  "So  we  have  to  iron  out 
a  couple  of  details  in  it,  and  we'll  be 
away  to  the  races." 

Food  service  workers  at  a  June  14 
meeting  by  Unite  Here,  however,  took 


a  less  flexible  view  on  the  matter. 
Frank  Piserchia,  union  representative 
for  Unite  Here,  strongly  asserted  that 
"we  cannot  trust  Aramark,  or  any  em- 
ployer in  that  matter,  until  they  com- 
mit themselves,  in  a  written  statement 
to  accept  the  collective  agreement 
as  negotiated  by  Sodexho  and  Unite 
Here.  University  of  Toronto  is  respon- 
sible for  upholding  the  fundamental 
rights  of  its  workers." 

At  the  meeting,  Unite  Here  members 
formally  drafted  a  letter  to  Aramark 
and  U  of  T  Vice-Presidents  press- 
ing them  on  this  point.  The  meeting 
ended  with  a  march  to  Simcoe  Hall  to 
hand-deliver  the  letter  to  U  of  T's  ad- 
ministration. 

Aramark  recognized  Unite  Here's 
union  at  a  town  hall  meeting  last 
month.  Oschefski  said  Aramark  is 
meeting  with  Unite  Here  on  Wednes- 
day to  attempt  to  discuss  the  collec- 
tive agreement. 


FREE 


&  ALWAYS  ONLINE 


www.thevarsity.ca 


VOL.CXXVII,  NO.  2 


// ONLINE  EXCLUSIVES 


Read  full  versions  of  the 
following  stories  at 

www.thevarsity.ca: 

Amarjeet  Chhabra  is  24  years 
old,  an  immigrant  from  India, 
an  undergraduate  at  UTSC, 
and  a  candidate  for  Toronto 
City  Council.  She  was  selected 
as  Scarborough's  City  Idol  at  a 
competition  on  June  10.  KEVIN 
WONG  speaks  with  Chhabra, 
who  will  be  juggling  school, 
UTSC  student  politics,  and  an 
election  campaign  this  fall. 

Jamin  Jahanbegloo,  a  former 
U  of  T  philosophy  professor  is 
being  held  in  Iran  since  April 
for  comments  seen  as  mildly 
critical  of  Iran's  Islamist  re- 
gime. "Professor  Jahanbe- 
gloo's  imprisonment  is  an 
anomaly  insofar  as  he  was  not 
the  fervent  political  of  social 
activist.  Jahanbegloo  was  an 
academic  in  every  sense  of  the 
word.  He  was  genuinely  inter- 
ested in  dialogue  per  se"  a  U 
of  T  student  who  edits  the  Ira- 
nian diaspora's  biggest  news- 
paper told  The  Varsity's  GUS 
CGNSTANTINOU. 

Graduate  enrollment  at  U  of 
T  is  set  to  grow  by  1,000  over 
the  coming  year,  on  account 
of  new  money  announced  by 
the  McGuinty  government  last 
year.  But,  as  ADEEL  AHMAD  re- 
ports, while  the  university  has 
gone  ahead  with  expansion 
plans  for  this  fall,  provincial 
funding  still  has  not  yet  ma- 
terialized. And  the  Graduate 
Students'  Union  fears  an  edu- 
cational quality  decline  on  an 
already  increasingly  crowded 
and  disconnected  campus. 

The  "exam  to  end  all  exams" 
is  in  a  few  days.  Your  texts  are 
still  in  their  plastic  wrapping. 
What  is  a  stressed,  caffeine- 
filled  student  to  do?  The  cre- 
ators of  "i-Tutor,"  hope  you'll 
come  to  them.  KEVIN  WONG 
reports  on  a  growing  project 
started  by  a  handful  of  U  of  T 
and  Waterloo  wizards — a  web- 
site that  hooks  up  screened 
tutors  eager  to  share  their 
knowledge  with  students  dire- 
ly  in  need  of  it. 


//TERROR  IN  TORONTO? 


Among  17  Toronto-area  men  ar- 
rested on  June  2  on  terror-relat- 
ed charges  was  first-year  UTM 
business  student  Saad  Khalid. 
According  to  interviews  with 
family,  Khalid  is  said  to  have 
spent  more  time  talking  about 
cricket  and  soccer  than  religion 
and  politics.  To  help  our  read- 
ers get  a  fuller  picture  of  this 
tragically  misguided  student, 
we  are  asking  any  individuals 
who  can  share  anecdotes  about 
him  to  contact  us  at 
news@thevarsity.ca. 
Then,  in  early  July,  check  out 
www.thevarsity.ca  to  read  what 
we've  found  out. 


2   MONDAY,  JUNE  19, 2006 


VARSITY  NEWS 


news@thevarsity.ca 


BIO  150  THIS  AIN'T:  Convocation  at  U  of  T  is  a  ceremony  in  which  every  student  participates.  Convocators  seated  in  the  crescent- 
shaped  section  on  the  ground  floor  line  up  to  one  side  of  the  stage.  Their  names  are  called  in  pairs,  (lower  centre  of  image):  Two 
UTSC  students  shake  hands  with  Provost  Vivek  Goel  and  Chancellor  Vivenne  Poy  at  last  Thursday's  afternoon  ceremony. 

Million-dollar  pipes 

The  king  of  high-maintenance  instruments,  Convocation  Hall's  organ  once 
again  needs  more  than  a  little  support  from  its  alumni  friends, 
AMYSMITHERS  writes. 


John  Tuttle  is  a  musician  in  a  pe- 
culiar predicament;  lie  needs 
a  quarter  of  a  million  dollars 
just  to  get  his  instrument  back  into 
working  order. 

"People  will  ask  me,  'Can  we  use 
the  organ.'  and  I  just  say  'Sure,  but 
don't  count  on  it,'"  he  chuckled. 
Tuttle  then  recalled  how  the  organ 
seems  to  have  a  mind  of  its  own  at 
times. 

"The  whole  top  octave  was  gone 
the  other  day.  Prior  to  one  convo- 
cation there  was  a  single  note  that 
wouldn't  stop  playing,  and  I  had  to 
have  someone  in  to  fix  it  at  the  last 
minute." 

The  pipe  organ  is  the  fifth-larg- 
est in  Toronto,  originally  built  in 
1911,  five  years  after  the  building's 
completion  in  1906.  Though  still  a 
majestic  presence,  its  age  is  begin- 
ning to  show.  Tuttle  has  taken  to 
checking  the  organ's  capabilities 
each  day.  then  modifying  what  he 
will  play  based  on  which  octaves 
and  notes  are  or  are  not  working. 

The  University  of  Toronto  is  cur- 
rently looking  to  alumni  to  raise 
■$500,000  for  building  refurbish- 
ments,  and  at  least  half  of  that  sum 
is  earmarked  for  the  organ  itself.  It 
was  the  Alumni  Association  who 
originally  contributed  half  of  the 
money  to  build  Convocation  Hall; 
the  government  matched  their 
.$50,000  in  1904. 


Tuttle,  who  first  began  playing 
the  piano  at  age  five,  became  in- 
trigued by  his  church  organ  in  his 
early  teens.  Someone  was  needed 
to  play  it  at  choir  practices,  and 
Tuttle  took  the  position  in  exchange 
for  organ  lessons.  Since  earning  a 
bachelor's  degree  in  organ  perfor- 
mance, he  has  become  the  organ- 
ist and  choirmaster  at  St.  Thomas' 
Anglican  Church,  an  adjunct  asso- 
ciate professor  of  organ  at  the  U  of 
T  Faculty  of  Music,  and  the  official 
university  organist  in  1979.  He  has 
been  playing  at  Convocation  Hall 
since  then. 

"This  organ  has  been  given  a 
tonal  facelift,  but  the  mechanical 
side  has  been  neglected,"  Tuttle  ex- 
plains. "There  are  major  air  leaks, 
[among]  other  problems." 

The  organ  has  more  than  4,000 
pipes,  so  it  is  easy  to  see  how  the 
costs  of  repairs  quickly  add  up.  Tut- 
tle has  been  performing  recitals  all 
across  the  continent  for  26  years, 
even  playing  in  London's  Westmin- 
ster Abbey,  but  he  still  believes 
that  this  organ  has  the  potential  to 
be  a  world-class  instrument  if  the 
funds  can  be  raised  to  repair  it. 

"There  comes  a  time  in  the  or- 
gan's life  when  you  have  to  decide 
if  the  organ  still  meets  the  expecta- 
tions of  the  organist,"  said  Robert 
Hillier,  one  of  the  many  individuals 
responsible  for  repairing  and  refur- 


bishing the  organ  over  the  years. 
He  works  for  Alan  T  Jackson  Co. 
Ltd.,  the  company  that  has  been  in 
charge  of  calming  the  rebellious  in- 
strument since  the  1960s.  The  last 
major  series  of  repairs  was  done 
between  1979  and  1980. 

"In  the  early  eighties  we  replaced 
a  lot  of  the  pipe  work  and  refreshed 
the  sound,"  Hillier  said.  "Then  in 
the  late  eighties  we  upgraded  the 
mechanics  and  the  console  was 
computerized." 

This  computerization  included 
the  installation  of  a  memory  sys- 
tem which  allows  the  organist  to 
preset  the  stops,  making  the  in- 
strument much  easier  to  navigate. 
$95,000  was  spent  on  the  1979  up- 
grade, and  another  $200,000  was 
spent  between  that  time  period 
the  mid  1990s.  The  $250,000  that 
it  will  cost  to  finish  the  rest  of  the 
work  is  only  a  quote  that  is  still  in 
discussion. 

In  any  case,  the  repairs  are  not 
going  to  happen  any  time  soon. 
There  is  no  contract  in  place  for 
the  rest  of  the  work,  and  Hillier 
claimed  that  it  takes  at  least  a  year 
to  order  in  the  parts  that  will  be 
necessary. 

Tuttle,  however,  is  still  hopeful: 
"This  being  one  of  the  principal 
universities  in  North  America,  it 
should  have  an  organ  that  reflects 
that  status." 


//THE  VARSITY  EXIT  INTERVIEWS 


Newly-minted  graduates  shared  their  thoughts  about 
Convocations,  their  future  plans,  and  life  aspirations 
outside  Convocation  Hall  last  week. 


Amanda  Tyier,  Bachelor  of  Science,  Trinity  College 
Q:  What  did  U  of  T  president  Naylor  or  Chancellor  Poy  | 
say  to  you  when  you  went  up?  ;| 
A:  "'Congratulations,  well  done,'  or  'Good  job.'  I  don't  | 
know.  I  Wcis  worried  about  falling  on  my  way  down,  so  | 
I  wasn't  really  listening  that  much." 


Ivanka  Slywynska,  Bachelor  of  Applied  Science  &  ' 
Engineering 

"I  pretty  much  have  made  up  my  mind  that  I  don't 
want  to  be  an  engineer.  I  like  to  work  with  people,  and 
seeing  them  every  day — seeing  the  change.  That's 
my  strength,  empowering  people,  and  not  working 
with  machines." 


Neil  While,  Bachelor  of  Science,  Trinity  College 
"Next  September  I'm  going  to  do  a  Ph.D.  at  Oxford 
University.  Up  until  then  I'll  be  working  in  a  lab  here, 
and  then  I'll  be  traveling  with  my  band  to  Japan  and 
to  England,  and  Australia,  doing  touring." 


Phil  Pothen,  Master  of  Landscape  Architecture: 
"My  interest  is  in  public  policy.  I'd  like  to  see  develop- 
ment done  in  a  more  intense  way,  with  public  spaces 
as  a  place  for  public  discourse.  Focus  less  on  fussy 
rows  of  trees.  Everyone  thinks  green  is  environmen- 
tally friendly — that's  not  always  the  case." 


Sarah  Naqvi,  computer  science,  U  of  T  Scarborough 
"I'm  thinking  of  teacher's  college:  1  want  to  teach  sci- 
ence and  computers.  I'd  like  to  break  the  stereotypes 
thing,  that  'girls  can't  study  this,'  that  it's  a  'super- 
geek'  subject.  You  have  to  fight  back  against  people 
telling  you  what  you're  supposed  to  be." 


Vedant  Tomer,  Bachelor  of  Business  Administration,  U 
of  T  Scarborough  ;«| 
"I've  been  in  Canada  five  years — four  of  them  at  U 
of  T.  A  lot  has  changed  in  five  years  [in  India]:  the 
number  of  cars,  the  make  of  the  cars.  There  are  a  lot 
of  opportunities  out  there.  Even  the  average  students 
are  finding  decent  jobs.  I  hope  1  made  the  right  chi 
[by  staying  in  Canada]." 


news@thevarsity.ca 


'IDOL  -  CONTINUED  FROM  PG  1 

to  Aminvaziri  is  the  complete  absence 
of  political  rhetoric  one  has  become  so 
accustomed  to  from  the  talking  heads 
of  CNN  and  CBC.  There's  very  little  hy- 
perbole in  Aminvaziri's  speech,  little 
fire  to  her  words.  Granted,  that  makes 
it  difficult  to  imagine  her  delivering  a 
rousing  oratory  and  inspiring  voters  to 
get  involved. 

But  it's  also  refreshing  not  to  have  to 
wade  through  the  "politico-speak"  to 
find  her  point.  Her  answers  are  literal 
and  heartfelt.  In  fact,  in  many  cases, 
when  Aminvaziri  is  short  on  specifics, 
she  refrains  from  speaking  in  vague 
terms.  When  asked  what  her  ward  will 
look  like  after  her  first  term  in  office 
(should  she  win),  Aminvaziri  simply 
replied,  "1  want  the  people  to  be  hap- 
pier. I  want  them  to  see  that  their  gov- 
ernment cares  about  them." 

Her  issues  are  seniors,  families,  chil- 
dren, and  the  environment.  "It's  all 


VARSITY  NEWS 


about  those  issues,"  she  said.  When 
pressed  for  specifics  on  how  she'll 
fix  each,  she  admits  that  she  doesn't 
know— yet.  Of  course,  if  Prime  Minis- 
ter Harper  were  to  give  such  an  answer 
to  a  policy  question,  he'd  be  grilled. 
But  Aminvaziri  can  be  excused.  For 
one,  she's  new  to  politics.  Two,  there's 
something  very  real  about  a  politician 
who  can  admit  "1  don't  know." 

Aminvaziri  realizes  how  difficult  the 
job  may  be,  but  she's  up  to  the  task. 
"When  people  vote  for  you,  you're 
indebted  to  them  to  deliver....  I  have 
to  win  for  them.  People  are  counting 
on  me  to  be  the  best  councillor  1  can 
be.  Now  I  realize  how  difficult  that  is," 
she  said. 


//NEWS  IN  BRIEF 


UTM  parking  garage  nixed 

Last  month,  Governing  Council  rejected  a 
proposal  to  construct  a  new  parking  garage 
despite  complains  of  insufficiency  in  park- 
ing space.  The  campus  currently  contains 
2,600  parking  spaces  for  a  student  popula- 
tion expected  to  rise  to  about  11,500  by  the 
2007-08  academic  year,  from  under  5,000  in 
2000.  About  3,300-3,500  additional  spaces 
were  requested.  The  Project  Planning  Com- 
mittee, however,  decided  that  current  parking 
demands  could  be  addressed  by  reducing  the 
number  of  spaces  designated  as  reserved. 
Additional  space  could  be  created  by  a  more 
efficient  layout  of  the  parking  lots.  It  conclud- 


ed that  UTM  did  not  appear  to  require  a  new 
parking  structure  prior  to  2009-10.  Instead, 
alternative  solutions  to  minimize  the  automo- 
bile use  will  be  explored.  Most  UTM  students 
drive  to  the  campus  because  of  limited  public 
transportation  alternatives. 
-JOSEPHINE  LEE 

Making  a  statement 

Taking  a  note  from  the  padded  essays  sub- 
mitted by  its  students,  U  of  T  has  issued  a 
fattened  revision  of  its  1992  Human  Rights 
statement.  The  pronouncement  outlines  the 
administration's  "broad  vision  of  the  university 
community."  But  the  new  version  has  swelled 


MONDAY,  JUNE  19, 2006  3 


from  a  readable  162  words  to  a  baffling  717. 
And  it's  now  called  an  "Equity  Statement  on 
Equity,  Diversity  and  Human  Rights."  Instead 
of  a  previous  single  line  that  the  university 
"acknowledges  that  it  conducts  its  teaching, 
research  and  other  activities  in  the  context  of 
a  richly  diverse  society,"  we  are  now  given  a 
paragraph  reaffirming  U  of  T's  diverse  hiring 
policies,  its  place  as  a  diverse  organization 
within  society,  and  its  own  touching  reflection 
on  the  attributes  of  diversity. 
-ADNAN  KHAN 

CHECK  OUT  WWW.THEVARSITY.CA 
FOR  MORE  BRIEFS  AND  AN  EDITORIAL 
CARTOON. 


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4    MONDAY,  JUNE  19, 2006 


VARSITY  COMMENT 


opinions@thevarsity.ca 


Reminding  us  why  we  fight 


Andrew  Wong 


In  the  early  hours  of  June  8,  2006,  I 
awoke  to  the  scrolling  news  ticker 
on  Cable  Pulse  24.  Although  my  first 
concern  was  the  weather  conditions 
for  the  weekend,  this  brief  headline 
caught  my  eye:  "Al-Qaeda  in  Iraq 
leader  al-Zarqawi  killed  by  U.S.  forc- 
es." 

For  all  the  negativity  and  animos- 
ity surrounding  the  American-led 
war  in  Iraq,  al-Zarqawi's  death  sig- 
nals a  major  victory  for  U.S.  forces, 
western  interests  in  the  region,  and 
most  importantly,  the  Iraqi  people. 

The  importance  of  al-Zarqawi's 
demise  is  seen  not  only  in  his  physi- 
cal removal  from  the  insurgency, 
but  more  importantly  through  the 
spiritual  and  symbolic  significance 
of  having  al-Zarqawi's  cold,  lifeless 
body  on  display  for  the  world  to  see. 

For  three  years  al-Zarqawi  por- 
trayed himself  as  the  invincible  and 
untouchable  al-Qaeda  leader  of  Iraq, 
operating  with  impunity  in  the  war- 
torn  country.  By  eluding  U.S.  and 
coalition  forces  and  staging  devas- 
tating attacks  on  both  military  and 
civilian  targets,  al-Zarqawi  built  him- 


Coalition  forces  hailed  these  images  as 
a  sign  of  progress,  while  the  insurgents 
vowed  to  step  up  their  violent  efforts. 

self  up  in  his  followers'  eyes  as  some- 
thing extraordinary.  He  became  the 
international  symbol  of  al-Qaeda's 
presence  in  the  Middle  East,  and  his 
leadership  was  reported  to  super- 
sede even  that  of  Osama  bin  Laden. 

All  of  that  ended  when  a  U.S.  air 
strike  demonstrated  to  his  followers, 
his  enemies,  and  those  that  feared 
him  that  Abu  Musab  al-Zarqawi  was 
but  a  man,  a  mere  mortal.  His  alleged 
greatness  stemmed  from  ordering 
others  to  do  what  he  was  too  cow- 
ardly to  do  himself. 

Al-Zarqawi  carried  out  a  three- 
year  campaign  of  terror  and  murder, 
the  majority  of  his  victims  being 


Iraqi  civilians,  the  very  people  he 
claimed  to  be  helping.  He  claimed  to 
be  a  devout  Muslim,  yet  he  initiated 
a  religious  civil  war  between  the  two 
major  sects  of  Islam  in  Iraq. 

Let  us  not  remember  al-Zarqawi 
as  the  legendary  fedayeen  leader 
who  waged  war  against  the  U.S.  in 
the  name  of  Islam.  Let  us  remember 
him  for  who  he  really  was:  a  coward, 
a  murderer,  and  an  enemy. 

Al-Zarqawi's  death  puts  the  tragic 
struggle  for  Iraq  back  into  perspec- 
tive. The  campaign  waged  in  that 
country  and  against  terrorism  every- 
where is  waged  against  people  like 
al-Zarqawi — people  who  exploit  the 
disenfranchised  and  the  poor.  They 
indoctrinate  their  followers  with 
intolerance  and  advocate  a  policy 
based  on  violence  and  terror. 

Our  enemies  aim  to  undermine 
our  society-building  efforts  in  the 
Middle  East  and  subject  war-weary 
civilian  populations  to  unrelenting 
bloodshed.  For  all  the  debate  over 
the  occupation  of  Iraq  and  Afghani- 
stan, we  must  not  forget  who  we  are 
fighting,  who  we  are  trying  to  help, 
and  what  we  are  trying  to  build  for 
the  future. 


Tackling  climate  change  on  the 
homefront — ^and  in  our  classrooms 


Steven  Borowiec 


It  seems  that  every  summer  nowa- 
days feels  longer  and  hotter  than  the 
last.  The  monotonous  hum  of  air  con- 
ditioners has  become  as  synonymous 
with  summer  heat  in  Toronto  as  the 
high-pitched  squeal  of  insects  seek- 
ing shade  in  the  bushes.  Mild  winters 
and  scorching  summers  now  seem  to 
be  the  norm  instead  of  the  exception, 
as  global  warming  has  become  an  ir- 
reversible fact  of  life. 

Climate  change  is  a  topic  that  is 
treated  as  reality  in  some  circles  and 
as  undue  speculation  in  others.  Yet 
despite  the  varying  opinions  on  the 
matter,  there  is  little  doubt  that  hu- 
man behavior  has  had  pronounced 
impacts  on  the  natural  world.  And 
as  long  as  you  plan  on  breathing  or 
stepping  outside  this  summer,  climate 
change  is  an  issue  you  will  encounter 
first-hand.  All  advocates  like  to  claim 
that  their  particular  social  issue  "af- 
fects us  all";  well,  this  one  really  does. 

Here  in  Canada,  the  newly  elected 
Conservative  government  has  demon- 
strated how  low  environmental  issues 
rank  on  their  list  of  priorities.  The  first 
federal  budget  presented  in  early  May 
does  not  bode  well  for  efforts  to  pro- 
tect Canada's  environment.  Recently, 
word  came  from  Ottawa  that  Canada 


will  not  support  efforts  to  set  more 
demanding  emission  targets  for  the 
second  phase  of  the  Kyoto  Protocol. 
Instead,  Canada  wants  to  annul  the 
climate-change  pact  in  favor  of  a  sepa- 
rate, voluntary  agreement.  Climate 
change  is  a  global  problem  that  will 
need  a  global  response,  and  the  cur- 
rent Canadian  government  has  made 
it  clear  they  have  no  interest  in  lead- 
ing the  effort. 

Even  though  we  live  in  a  democra- 
cy, in  reality  we  have  little  power  over 
what  our  government  does.  We  do 
however  have  far  more  power  in  de- 
ciding how  we  each  live  our  own  lives. 
Climate  change  is  certainly  too  big  an 
issue  for  any  one  person  to  tackle  on 
their  own,  but  when  feeling  helpless 
it  can  be  encouraging  to  remember 
that  global  phenomena  like  climate 
change  largely  stem  from  the  behav- 
iour of  individual  people.  By  changing 
the  way  we  live  on  a  daily  basis  we  as 
individuals  can  have  a  real  impact  on 
the  global  climate. 

Here  at  U  of  T  there  are  examples 
of  what  not  to  do  in  the  fight  against 
global  warming.  Our  campus  is  full  of 
huge  buildings  that  are  pumped  full 
of  conditioned  air  all  summer,  bring- 
ing classrooms  and  laboratories  to 
unnecessarily  frigid  temperatures. 
Air  conditioners  releeise  harmful  car- 


bons that  erode  the  ozone  layer  and 
increase  global  warming;  as  a  leading 
research  institution,  U  of  T  should 
avoid  contributing  to  climate  change 
wherever  possible. 

As  summer  sets  in,  most  of  us  will  be 
turning  up  our  home  air  conditioners. 
Internal  climate  control  has  become  a 
standard  component  of  North  Ameri- 
can homes  as  people  try  to  tame  the 
summer  heat.  Air  conditioning  in 
most  cases  is  no  longer  thought  of  as 
a  luxury,  but  as  a  necessary  safeguard 
against  sticky  summer  temperatures. 

But  in  the  long  run  we  are  going  to 
need  to  adapt  to  the  heat,  as  our  cur- 
rent approach  to  keeping  cool  does 
not  seem  sustainable.  The  weather  is 
only  going  to  get  warmer  and  the  re- 
sources we  need  to  cool  ourselves  will 
only  become  more  scarce. 

Every  summer,  huge  strain  is  put  on 
Toronto's  power  system  as  thousands 
of  households  crank  up  the  cold.  For 
so  much  of  the  Canadian  year  tem- 
peratures hover  around  the  freezing, 
so  warm  temperatures  should  be 
allowed  to  flourish  during  the  short 
time  we  can  enjoy  them. 

While  you  perhaps  can't  control 
what  goes  on  in  the  back  rooms  of  Par- 
liament, leave  the  windows  open  this 
summer,  feel  a  cool  breeze,  and  know 
you're  doing  what  you  can. 


LETTERS 


Legit  or  no,  Hamas 
must  go 

Re:  No  mas  for  Hamas,  May  15 

Funny  how  the  word  "mas"  in  Hebrew 
means  payment,  or  fees.  And  certainly 
no  mas  for  Hamas  is  the  right  thing  to 
do.  But  I  ask  Adrian  Morson  one  thing: 
if  "cutting  aid  [is]  not  the  way  to  go  for 
Canada,"  what  about  our  Canadian 
principles?  I  believe  that  Canada 
should  not  assist  any  entity  that 
espouses  the  destruction  of  another 
state  and  engages  in  wanton  terror 
of  innocent  civilians.  This  is  a  basic 
Canadian  and  human  rights  principle. 
So  then  why  aid  Hamas,  which  still 
calls  for  Israel's  destruction  and  aids  in 
terror  attacks  against  Israelis?  I  would 
hope  that  the  government  continues 
to  stand  by  its  word  and  the  principles 
we  stand  upon.  How  odd  would  it  be 
for  me  personally,  as  an  Israeli  and  a 
Canadian,  for  my  very  own  tax  dollars 
to  be  sent  to  an  entity  that  espouses 
the  destruction  of  my  homeland? 

JONNY  KOMG 

•  Adrian  Morson's  criticism  of 
Harper's  decision  to  cut  off  funding  for 
Palestine  is  based  on  a  fallacy:  that  re- 
specting the  Palestinians'  democratic 
choice  necessitates  funding  Hamas. 
It  does  not.  The  Palestinians  have 
made  the  decision  to  elect  a  group  of 
murderous  terrorists  as  their  leaders. 
This  is  deeply  regrettable,  but  it  is 
their  choice.  Canada's  government  has 
made  the  decision  that  its  internation- 
al aid  will  not  support  terrorist  states. 
All  evidence  suggests  that  Canadians 
support  this  decision.  That  Palestin- 
ians will  suffer  is  clear  and  deeply 
regrettable,  but  it  is  unavoidable.  Civil- 
ians always  suffer  in  boycotts,  and  if 
that  fact  were  decisive  than  no  boycott 
(of  South  Africa  in  the  1980s,  Germany 
in  1930s,  or  Zimbabwe  today)  would  be 
legitimate. 

The  author's  suggestion  that  Hamas 
is  a  negotiating  partner-in-waiting 
is  naive.  The  organization  has  not 
renounced  terrorism,  and  cheered  the 
murder  of  innocent  Israeli  civilians.  I 
would  urge  him  not  to  repeat  the  error 
of  left-wing  intellectuals  who  refused 
to  see  Stalinist  terror  for  what  it  was. 

Professor  Randall  Hansen 

Canada  Research  Chair  in  Immigration 
&  Governance 

Department  of  Political  Science,  UofT 


//ONLINE  EXCLUSIVE: 


With  nothing  to  do  now  that  exams 
are  over,  writer  DANIELLE 
CORNACCHIA  is  spending  her  vacation 
trying  to  discern  her  vocation.  But  she 
soon  realizes  that  finding  the  one  thing 
that  will  make  her  happy  and  keep  her 
interested  for  the  rest  of  her  life  isn't  as 
easy  as  it  sounds. 

"My  last  three  years  have  been  spent 
pursuing  highly  impractical  lines  of 
thought  and  courses  of  study,  but  I've 


Headscarf  headache 
continues 

Re:  Headscarf  unwelcome  at 
law?.  May  15 

I  am  deeply  disturbed  that  Judy  Finlay 
continues  to  work  at  the  Faculty  of 
Law.  As  I  read  the  article  in  which  Ms. 
Finlay  stated  to  a  fellow  co-worker  that 
wearing  the  Muslim  hijab  was  "scary," 
was  "scaring  people"  and  further 
stated  that  the  co-worker  "should 
leave  your  religion  behind  when  you 
come  to  Canada,"  I  felt  sick  to  my 
stomach.  Besides  the  fact  that  this 
comment  is  racial  and  religious  harass- 
ment, I  am  more  disturbed  that  such 
a  bigoted  individual  still  works  at  the 
admissions  department  in  the  Faculty 
of  Law.  Someone  that  holds  such  racist 
views  should  not  be  the  gatekeeper  of 
legal  studies  at  U  of  T.  Not  only  does 
her  continued  presence  question  the 
credibility  of  the  faculty,  but  portrays 
the  administration  as  condoning 
her  actions.  Ms.  Finlay's  comments 
violated  section  5(2)  of  the  Ontario 
Human  Rights  Code,  and  as  such,  Ms. 
Finlay  should  be  dismissed  from  the 
faculty.  Anything  less  is  entirely  unac- 
ceptable. 

Anonymous  U  of  T  Student 

Memorizing  a  fact 
of  life  for  many 

Re:  "Great  minds  don't 
memorize,"  Letters,  May  15 

I  think  it  is  Karen  Zhou  who  may  be 
unaware  of  the  goings  on  at  this  insti- 
tute of  higher  education.  If  great  minds 
don't  memorize,  then  I  think  the  sci- 
ence majors  are  individuals  severely 
lacking  in  intellectual  prowess.  Memo- 
rizing multitudes  of  minute  details 
is  the  only  way  to  succeed  in  many 
science  courses.  On  multiple  choice 
evaluations,  no  marks  are  awarded  for 
understanding  the  concept,  no  matter 
how  adamantly  a  professor  insists  that 
concepts  are  all  you  need  to  know — 
you  must  memorize,  memorize, 
memorize!  The  only  way  to  do  well  is 
to  know  every  fact  and  figure  of  each 
lecture,  slide  or  reference  text.  I'm  not 
sure  what  program  Karen  Zhou  is  in, 
but  I  think  her  letter  is  written  by  a 
student  who  doesn't  truly  understand 
the  higher  education  of  science. 

Stephen  Zborovski 


feally  enjoyed  most  of  what  I've  taken. 
And  yet  I'll  never  forget  my  mother's 
reaction  to  some  of  the  courses  I  took 
last  yean  'Why  would  anyone  want  to 
learn  about  that?'  Ouch." 
Go  online  to  read  Danielle's  account 
of  her  quest  to  evade  "Taylor  Hicks- 
induced  nihilism"  and  find  her  true 
calling.  See  "The  idiot's  guide  to 
discovering  your  vocation"  at 
www.thevarsity.ca 


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MONDAYJUNE  19, 2006  5 


JORDAN  BIMM,  JENNIFER  FABRO, 
CHANDLER  LEVACK  

For  some  scenesters,  the  big  story 
about  last  week's  North  by  Northeast 
music  festival  wasn't  the  big  names  like 
Television  and  the  Buzzcocks  who  flew 
in  for  bonus  showcases  at  the  Phoe- 
nix, but  rather  who  chose  to  opt  out 
of  this  year's  big  indie  shindig.  With 
well-known  indie  labels  Baudelaire  and 
Paper  Bag  Records  hosting  their  own 
sold-out  showcases  at  Sneaky  Dee's 
and  The  Mod  Club,  NXNE  still  managed 
to  create  a  commotion  producing  win- 
ners, losers  and  drama  galore. 

Reps  from  the  record  industry 
clamoured  into  Kensington  on  Thurs- 
day night  to  catch  Midland's  feral  in- 
die-kids Bom  Ruffians  rock  The  Boat. 
After  impressing  a  capacity  crowd  with 
their  Pixies-esque  sound  and  wild  stage 
antics,  the  word  on  the  street  is  that  a 
U.K.  tour  is  in  the  works,  so  don't  expect 
these  boys  to  stay  unsigned  for  long. 
Also  attracting  attention  on  Thursday 
were  recent  EMI  signees  Slute.  While 
their  "let's-be-controversial"  posters 
bear  more  than  a  passing  similarity  to 
prints  put  up  by  Drug  Money  only  last 
year,  their  sweaty,  Motley-and-Roses  in- 
spired set  had  a  packed  the  Gypsy  Co- 
op bleeding  suits  in  spades. 

Big  losers  included  pop-punk  wan- 
nabes The  Hemmingway  Solution 
whose  uninspired  Friday  set  at  Holy 
Joe's  was  universally  panned  by  those 
unlucky  enough  to  witness  their  whin- 
ey  drivel.  It  might  be  time  to  implement 
that  "solution"  boys. . . 

One  big  surprise  at  this  years  festival 
was  the  inclusion  of  Dan  Burice's  NeXT 
showcase  at  the  Silver  Dollar  in  the 
NXNE  lineup.  Usually  happy  to  rebel 
against  the  fest,  Burke  added  some 
much-appreciated  talent  with  likes  of 
Montreal  soul  punks  King  Khan  and 
Toronto's  best  post-punk  militants  Ana- 
gram. 

And  what  would  a  Dan  Burke  show- 
case be  without  a  full-blown  fiasco? 
This  year's  came  courtesy  of  once-ac- 
claimed Hamilton  rockers  From  Fiction 
who  decided  to  breakup  their  band 
(after  dropping  their  Steve  Albini  re- 
corded debut  Bloodwork  on  Last  Gang 
Records  back  in  March)  and  cancel 
their  upcoming  tour  on  the  day  of  their 
NXNE  showcase.  Lucky  for  us,  Guelph's 
D'ubervilies  were  on  hand  to  fill  in,  and 
amazed  everyone  who  turned  up  ex- 
pecting a  spastic  math-rock  set. 

THURSDAY  JUNE  8 

The  Born  Ruffians  @  Boat,  9  p.m. 

Brampton's  Born  Ruffians  began  their 
show  in  a  huddle,  an  auspicious  begin- 
ning after  distributing  free  cupcakes 
to  the  audience.  The  band  unleashed 
a  series  of  songs  so  fresh  and  crisp 
it  was  like  biting  into  a  ripe  Granny 
Smith.  A  mixture  of  classic  rock,  disco, 
and  country  (with  one  foot  in  the  in- 
die door),  the  Ruffians  used  call  and 
response,  doubled  bass  lines,  and  the 
pretty  warblings  of  their  lead  singer  to 
win  over  the  packed  room.  Their  lyrics 
reflect  the  19-year-old  ideologies  of  the 
band  members:  the  endless  pursuit  of 
jobs,  chicks,  and  the  meaning  of  life. 
While  some  moments  in  the  40-minute 
set  were  a  little  too  erratic,  by  the  fourth 


tune  the  band  had  found  its  groove  and 
were  controlling  the  pulse  of  their  songs 
like  a  metronome.  -CL 

Rating:  VWvV 

Hostage  Life  @  Bovine  Sex  Club, 
10  p.m. 

This  Toronto-based  Underground  Op- 
erations five-piece  played  a  solid,  if 
run-of-the-mill  set.  Hostage  Life's  hard- 
core-tinged melodic  punk  incorporated 
a  disco  beat  for  one  song,  which  was 
oddly  refreshing  in  a  genre  that  can  get 
monotonous.  Intense  frontman  Colin  Li- 
chti  provided  some  charming  banter,  for 
example:  "My  ass  is  slathered  in  Prepa- 
ration H  right  now,  and  1  challenge  you 
all  to  lick  it."  Lovely.  In  any  case,  a  small 
contingent  of  devotees  shouted,  "Hos- 
tage Life  ain't  nothing  to  fuck  with! "  dur- 
ing breaks  in  the  set,  showing  that  their 
dependably  tight  brand  of  punk  rock 
was  instilling  Stockholm  syndrome  in 
the  Bovine  audience.  -JF 

Rating:  VWW 

Robin  Black  @  Bovine  Sex  Club, 
1  a.m. 

A  capacity  crowd  of  well-coiffed  and 
blase  scenesters  were  in  attendance 
to  watch  Robin  Black  and  his  consorts 
blast  their  generic  brand  of  glam  rock 
at  the  Bovine.  Black,  who  recently 
played  a  "celebrity"  on  MuchMusic's 
VJ  Search,  proved  once  and  for  all  that 
he's  pure  style  over  substance.  Black 
and  his  band  (who  may  single-hand- 
edly keep  M.A.C.  cosmetics  in  business) 
strutted  their  stuff  onstage  for  a  set  that 
included  both  old  favourites  and  new 
material.  When  Black  stripped  off  layers 
of  his  meshy  clothes  and  dangled  imp- 
ishly from  the  chain-link  ceiling  belting 
"Why  don't  you  love  me?",  more  than  a 
few  convincing  reasons  came  to  mind. 
When  he  used  an  audience  member  as 
a  foothold  to  better  pose  his  hairless, 
pierced  torso  for  the  copious  cameras, 
I  realized  that  I'm  not  among  the  "some 
of  you  boys  and  most  of  you  girls"  who 
allegedly  love  him.  Sorry  Robin,  your 
derivative  sound  and  carefully-crafted 
look  are  as  stale  as  they  are  contrived. 
-JF 

Rating:  VvVW 

Fjord  Rowboat  @  The  Crowbar, 
1  a.m. 

With  a  similar  feel  to  Healy's,  the  Crow- 
bar had  a  better-than-expected  lighting 
rig,  but  next  to  no  walk-up  traffic,  which 
was  a  shame  because  Fjord  Rowboat 
are  a  band  ready  and  able  to  make  new 
converts  out  of  the  uninitiated.  Despite 
deserving  a  much  larger  audience. 
Fjord  Rowboat  launched  into  a  sea  of 
shimmering,  reverb-drenched  guitars 
anchored  by  their  sinister  rhythm  sec- 
tion. Despite  the  fact  that  frontman 
Craig  Gloster  looks  like  Ian  Curtis  as  a 
vampire,  his  melodies  are  much  more 
in  step  with  Ride  singer  Mark  Gardener. 
And  while  the  UK  shoegazer  sound  is 
a  clear  touchstone  for  Fjord  Rowboat, 
their  catchy,  sing-along  choruses  and 
bouncy  rhythms  pack  the  neat,  dy- 
namic punch  often  missing  from  the 
pastoral  soundscapes  of  My  Bloody 


Valentine  and  Slowdive.  Highlights  of 
their  set  included  their  creeping  instru- 
mental opener  "Paragon",  "Taking  the 
Pass",  and  the  infectious  closer  "Carried 
Away".  Definitely  a  band  to  watch.  Fjord 
Rowboat  are  reportedly  recording  ma- 
terial with  miracle  producer  Andy  Ma- 
goffin (Constantines,  The  Straits,  The 
Hidden  Cameras).  -JB 

Rating:  VWW 

FRIDAY  JUNE  9 

Television  @  The  Phoenix  Concert 
Theatre,  7  p.m. 

Anyone  who  likes  what  70s  punk  did  to 
rock  music  worships  the  ground  that 
Television  walks  on.  Culled  from  the 
same  New  York  scene  that  produced 
such  seminal  bands  as  Blondie,  the 
Talking  Heads  and  the  Ramones,  these 
proto-art  rockers  pretty  much  built 
the  Mecca  of  CBGB's  with  their  infec- 
tious dueling  guitar  lines.  Singer  Tom 
Verlaine  appeared  in  top  form,  con- 
sidering his  advanced  age,  and  while 
a  few  songs  ended  less  than  perfectly, 
Richard  Lloyd's  amazing  guitar  work  on 
classics  like  "Venus"  and  "Prove  It"  eas- 
ily rendered  these  minor  errors  forget- 
table. While  bassist  Fred  Smith  could 
have  stepped  out  a  bit  more  (at  times 
he  looked  a  little  robotic)  drummer  Bil- 
ly Ficca  was  all  smiles  from  behind  the 
kit,  obviously  thrilled  to  still  be  playing 
live.  Television  saved  "Marquee  Moon", 
their  best-loved  punk-opus  for  their  en- 
core. Soon  the  cavernous  Phoenix  had 
the  feel  of  a  smoky  bar-room  (although 
it  wasn't  because  of  tobacco)  with  mem- 
bers of  the  band  trading  knowing  smiles 
throughout.  After  the  final  song,  the 
new  "Live  Today",  Lloyd  was  accosted 
onstage  by  a  die-hard  fan  desperate  to 
claim  his  guitar  pick  as  a  souvenir.  Se- 
curity acted  quickly  and  throat-tackled 
the  disheveled  reveler  into  the  wings 
where  he  had  one  final  tussle  with  his 
guitar  hero.  Very  punk.  -JB 

Rating:  VWW 

Mandy  Kane  @  The  Bagel, 
10  p.m. 

Billed  as  Gary  Numan  meets  David 
Bowie,  this  Australian  solo  electro- 
rocker  worked  best  as  a  comedy  act, 
though  that  was  far  from  his  intention. 
Apparently  the  author  of  three  top-30 
songs  back  down  under  (must  have 
been  a  slow  music  year),  Mr.  Kane's 
music  sounds  like  a  shittier  version  of 
Econoline  Crush  meets  Placebo.  Play- 
ing a  distorted  electric  guitar  over  a 
backing  track  that  sounded  like  he  just 
opened  up  GarageBand  and  selected 
"generic  industrial-pop  song  #1",  Kane 
was  vamped  up  with  loads  of  black 
eyeliner,  supposedly  shooting  for  last 
year's  Billy  Joe  Armstrong  look.  Sadly 
his  complete  lack  of  sincerity  coupled 
with  90210  side  burns  made  him  look 
like  an  insane  Good  Charlotte  imposter, 
and  sound  even  worse.  Eventually,  1  had 
to  flee  the  Bagel  because  1  couldn't  stop 
laughing.  Oh  yeah,  and  in  this  one  song 
he  sang  "if  the  good  die  young,  why  am 
I  still  here?"  Think  about  it  Mandy...  it's 
because  you  suck.  -JB 

Rating:  VWW 


Spiral  Beach  @  The  Drake 
Underground,  11  p.m. 

These  self-described  kids  "from  down 
the  street"  wowed  a  packed  house  at 
the  Drake  Underground.  Fusing  funky 
beats  that  drop  like  pianos  from  third 
story  windows  with  sultry  vocals,  gui- 
tars, and  keys,  these  three-guys-and-a- 
girl  sure  know  how  to  keep  an  audience 
watching.  Their  tight  musicianship  and 
quirky  arrangements  only  fueled  the 
fire  started  by  their  frantic  onstage 
energy.  Channeling  the  spirit  of  Deb- 
bie Harry  with  a  touch  of  Metric's  Em- 
ily Haines,  vocalist  Maddy  Wilde  was 
both  charming  and  proficient  as  Spiral 
Beach  jumped  and  charged  their  way 
through  their  set.  The  general  consen- 
sus seemed  to  be  that  the  audience  was 
up  for  much  more  than  40  minutes  of 
Spiral  Beach's  addictive  brand  of  quirk- 
pop.  Watch  for  them  to  upstage  bands 
twice  their  age  at  this  year's  Hillside  fes- 
tival in  Guelph.  -JB 

Rating:  VWW 


The  Mark  Inside  @  The  Rivoli, 
Midnight 

Fresh  off  their  acting  debut  on  CTV's 
At  the  Hotel,  Toronto-come-Whitby 
rockers  The  Mark  Inside  turned  every- 
thing up  to  11  and  gave  the  at-capacity 
crowd  a  sonic  endurance  test.  Divided 
between  material  from  their  acclaimed 
debut  Static  Crash,  and  new  songs  from 
a  hopefully  not-too-distance  follow-up. 
The  Mark  Inside's  set  was  full  of  flailing 
bodies,  charging  rhythms  and  massive 
distortion  levels.  "Questions",  a  new 
song  they've  been  playing  live,  sounded 
amazing  with  Geoff  Bennett's  fluid  and 
catchy  bass  line  simmering  while  voccil- 
ist  Chris  Lavoir  screams  "Am  I  doing 
this  right?"  in  a  nearly  trace  like  state. 
Playing  to  a  crowd  of  long-time  friends 
and  fans  the  band  seemed  loose  and 
giddy  on  stage,  even  teasing  a  long- 
lost  cover  of  "Groovy  Dead"  by  Rusty. 
Capping  off  their  set  with  their  current 
single  "Sweet  Little  Sister",  these  guys 
play  every  show  like  their  lives  depend 
on  people  walking  away  impressed,  and 
it  shows.  -JB 

Rating:  WWv 

The  Coast  @  The  El  Mocambo, 
1  a.m. 

U  of  T's  biggest  Brit-rock  threat  The 
Coast  had  the  El  Mocambo  packed  for 
their  gig  at  Friday's  Doritos  showcase. 
While  the  chip-maker  used  the  night 
to  hawk  it's  new  Sweet  Chili  Heat  nacho 
snacks.  The  Coast  seized  the  oppor- 
tunity to  showcase  songs  from  their 
brand  new  self-titled  EP.  Lit  by  their 
trademarked  white  Christmas  lights, 
singer  Ben  Spurr  led  the  band  through 
an  emotionally-charged  set  of  shimmer- 
ing guitar  hooks  and  wait-and-see  cho- 
ruses that  always  delivered  by  songs 
end.  At  times  upstaging  his  own  front- 
man,  guitarist  Ian  Fosbery  channeled 
the  best  of  delay-heavy  U.K.  rock  to  cre- 
ate the  breathtaking  sonic  atmospheres 
on  which  The  Coast  thrive.  By  the  end 
they  had  the  crowd  eating  out  of  their 
hands  and  ignoring  the  shitty,  free  Dori- 
tos that  were  strewn  everywhere.  -JB 


PHOTOS  BY  nCQUELINEURBANO 


Rating  for  the  ne'w  Sweet  Chili 
Heat  Doritos:  WWV 

Rating  for  The  Coast:  VWW 

SATURDAY  JUNE  10 

Buzzcocks  @  The  Phoenix,  7  p.m. 

I  arrived  at  the  Phoenix  at  5:45pm,  the 
earliest  I've  arrived  at  a  show  since  1 
was  17  cind  didn't  know  any  better.  But 
this  was  the  Buzzcocks,  one  of  those 
rare  bands  that  are  probably  older 
them  your  parents,  and  that  every  new 
punk  band  worth  their  safety  pins  has 
paid  homage  to.  At  first,  Pete  Shelley's 
pudgy  physique  and  wispy  hairline 
caused  some  worry  about  the  band's 
stage-worthiness,  but  as  the  hour-long 
set  progressed,  it  became  clear  that  he 
and  his  bandmates  can  still  rock  like 
the  smartass  punks  they  were  30  years 
ago.  The  set  spanned  their  extensive 
discography,  with  favourites  like  Ever 
Fallen  in  Love,  and  What  Do  I  Get  receiv- 
ing cheers  from  the  mixed  audience  of 
adoring  young  fans  and  bespectacled 
oldsters.  By  the  time  the  encore  ended, 
my  ears  were  buzzing  from  volume  lev- 
els that  stealthily  increased  over  the 
course  of  the  show,  but  I  was  also  grin- 
ning from  having  just  witnessed  these 
punk  rock  legends  in  action.  -JF 

Rating:  VWvV 

October  Guard  @  The  Bagel, 
1  a.m. 

Imagine  if  every  time  you  did  your  job 
you  got  electrocuted.  This  is  exactly 
what  singer  Randall  Roland  Savoy  of 
October  Guard  had  to  endure  at  the 
Bagel  on  Saturday  night.  "When  1  touch 
the  mic  I  get  a  shock",  he  explained  after 
picking  himself  up  off  the  floor  follow- 
ing their  opening  number.  This  is  where 
most  bands  would  stop  the  show  and 
give  up,  but  not  these  kids.  Instead,  the 
up-and-coming  three  piece  charged  for- 
ward blasting  into  "Nightmare  Patrol", 
one  of  many  highlights  from  their  debut 
album.  Their  dark-wave  rock,  which 
sounds  kinda  like  Bloc  Party  commu- 
nicating from  beyond  the  grave  after 
dying  in  a  fiery  plane  crash,  impressed 
the  hell  out  of  a  small  yet  attentive  audi- 
ence at  the  Bagel.  While  Savoy  was  fun 
to  watch  climbing  on  tables  and  playing 
with  reckless  abandon,  guitarist  Brett 
Clarkson  had  his  hands  full  playing 
some  of  the  best  indie-rock  hooks  I've 
heard  to  date.  At  the  end  of  their  NXNE- 
regulated  40  minutes  Savoy  asked 
the  audience,  "Do  you  guys  want  one 
more?"  Following  screams,  cheers  and 
drunken  demands  for  the  band  to  play 
an  encore  he  resigned  (with  NXNE  staff- 
ers tapping  their  watches)  to  retorting 
"Well,  too  bad,  cause  it's  not  happen- 
ing."-JB 

Rating:  VWW 


//ONLINE  exclusive: 


For  more  sights  and  sounds 
from  NXNE,  an  interview  with 
author  DAVY  ROTHBART  and  movie 
reviews,  visit  www.thevarsity.ca 


6    MONDAY,  JUNE  19, 2006 


VARSITY  SCIENCE 


science@thevarsity.ca 


//SCIENCE  IN  BRIEF 


Tracking  the  aroma  gene 

Scientists  from  the  University  of  Michi- 
gan have  identified  an  important  gene 
from  petunia  flowers  and  basil  leaves 
that  are  responsible  for  the  synthesis 
of  isoeugenol  and  eugenol,  two  closely 
related  molecules  that  give  these  plants 
their  unique  aromas.  These  molecules 
also  help  repel  herbivores,  attract  pol- 
linators, and  are  valued  in  the  culinary 
world  as  spices.  After  identifying  a  gene 
sequence  in  both  petunia  and  basil,  the 
group  successfully  engineered  bacteria 
to  express  a  precursor  gene  and  both 
scent  molecules.  The  next  step?  For  the 
penny-pinching  chef,  it  is  mass-produc- 
ing genetically  engineered  spices  at  a 
low  cost.  For  the  scientist,  perhaps  the 
ability  to  alter  the  way  living  things — 
plant  or  skunk — smell. 
— MANDYLO 
Source:  ScienceNOW 


The  sniffing  pathway 

It  s  an  all  too  familiar  situation.  You're 
driving  along  innocently  when  suddenly 
you're  hit — not  by  an  oncoming  vehicle 
or  a  large  terrestrial  animal.  What  hits 
you  is  the  wall  of  putrescent  stink  of  our 
good  friend  Pepe  Le  Pew.  You  grimace. 
Why?  How?  Duke  University  researcher 
Da  Yu  Lin  seems  to  have  at  least  discov- 
ered the  how.  Working  with  mice,  which 
have  similar  scent  regions  in  the  brain 
as  humans,  Lin  and  his  team  found  that 
neurons  in  the  olfactory  region  of  the 
brain  do  not  work  to  recognize  scent  as 
an  entity.  Instead,  nerve  cells  recognize 
each  individual  molecule  that  makes  up 
a  scent  and  transfers  the  information 
to  more  complex  regions  of  the  brain 
for  assembly  into  a  recognizable  scent. 
In  other  words,  a  smell  is  the  sum  of  its 
parts.  So  the  next  time  you  encounter  the 
signature  scent  of  everybody's  favourite 
amorous  skunk,  recall  Lin's  discovery 
and  take  comfort  in  the  knowledge  that 
the  human  brain  works  in  mysterious 
ways.  It  gave  us  cars,  computers,  and 
cellular  phones,  but  until  it  gives  us  ge- 
netic nose  plugs,  hold  your  breath! 
—JENNIFER  BATES 

Source:  Duke  University  Medical  Centre 
news  service 

Faulty  families  to  blame? 

It  is  known  that  schizophrenia  runs  in 
families  and  environmental  influences 
like  parenting  are  not  often  considered 
a  key  factor  in  the  development  of  the 
dise«ise.  However,  two  scientists  from 
the  University  of  Manchester  have  re- 
cently made  the  controversial  claim  that 
two-thirds  of  people  with  schizophrenia 
have  been  physically  or  sexually  abused 
as  children.  After  analyzing  40  studies 
of  people  with  schizophrenia,  the  scien- 
tists concluded  that  abuse  may  trigger 
permanent  changes  in  brain  structure 
and  chemistry  leading  to  hallucinatory 
symptoms  similar  to  those  seen  in  pa- 
tients suffering  from  post-traumatic 
stress  disorder.  Still,  most  psychiatrists 
are  not  impressed  with  the  conclusions 
and  insist  that  the  strongest  predictor  of 
schizophrenia  is  a  family  history  of  the 
disorder 

— MAYCEAL-SUKHNI 

Source:  NewScientisLcom 


The  dark  side  of  science 


Sazia  Sharmin 


More  often  than  not,  science  experi- 
ments in  student  labs  fail.  We  tell 
ourselves  that  in  "real"  labs,  things 
are  done  differently  and  experiments 
will  work.  However,  in  a  scientific 
community  after  the  South  Korean 
cloning  fraud,  there  is  an  increasing 
concern  that  research  findings  we 
trust  to  be  true  are  false.  John  loan- 
nidis  of  the  Tufts  University  School  of 
Medicine  explains  this  in  an  article 
boldly  titled  "Why  most  published 
research  findings  are  false." 

Statistics  are  used  most  often  to 
validate  research  findings,  but  loan- 
nidis  uses  statistics  to  throw  cold 
water  on  scientific  research  in  gen- 
eral. The  post  predictive  value,  PPV, 
is  the  probability  of  a  finding  being 
true  after  a  study  has  been  done.  Mi- 
croarrays  and  other  high-through- 
put techniques,  many  of  which  have 
revolutionized  biological  research, 
have  an  extremely  low  PPV. 

When  coupled  with  the  issue  of 
"effect  sizes,"  the  importance  of  the 
finding  to  everyday  human  life,  re- 


search findings  begin  to  look  even 
shadier,  loannidis  says  the  findings 
that  least  affect  human  life  will  be 
plagued  with  "ubiquitous  false  posi- 
tive claims"  while  scientific  fields 
with  large  effects,  like  smoking  and 


cancer,  are  more  likely  to  publish 
true  findings. 

loannidis  deduces  several  interest- 
ing corollaries  about  the  probability 
of  a  research  finding  being  true.  For 
example,  the  greater  the  financial 


interests  and  prejudices  in  a  scien- 
tific field,  the  less  we  can  trust  their 
claims. 

"The  hotter  the  scientific  field  (with 
more  scientific  teams  involved),  the 
less  likely  the  research  findings  are 
true,"  says  loannidis.  When  "timing 
is  of  the  essence  in  beating  compe- 
tition," experts  actually  suppress 
new  findings  that  refute  established 
findings  through  the  peer  review 
process. 

Every  day,  novel  nomenclature  is 
coined  to  describe  new  scientific  dis- 
coveries. At  the  same  time,  colorful 
jargon  dealing  with  the  less  glorious 
side  of  research  is  generated.  The 
Proteus  phenomenon,  for  example, 
refers  to  the  playground  battle  of 
alternating  claims  and  refutations. 
Scientific  teams  often  refrain  from 
publishing  negative  results  until  an- 
other team  finds  a  positive  result  for 
the  same  question  and  publishes  it 
in  a  prestigious  journal. 

loannidis  recommends  the  use  of 
statistical  analysis  of  a  given  study  in 
the  wider  context  of  similar  studies 
to  improve  the  current  situation. 


//SMOG:  A  DAY  IN  THE  LIFE 


Lakevlew  Generating  Station,  a  coal-fired  power  plant  shut  down  in  2005, 
was  demolished  on  June  12.  In  its  43-year  life,  it  generated  enough  total 
electricity  to  supply  Ontario  for  a  year  and  a  half  today. 


On  June  7  and  8,  the  City 
of  Toronto  hosted  the  7th 
annual  Smog  Summit  and 
Best  Practices  Exchange  to  improve 
air  quality  in  Ontario.  Initiatives 
included  the  expansion  of  street 
sweepers  to  reduce  road  dust  and 
the  use  of  solar  panels  at  commu- 
nity centres.  The  Varsity  takes  an 
inside  look  at  smog  and  its  effect  on 
life  in  the  city. 

7:45  a.m.:  it  is  a  Smog  Alert  Day 
in  Toronto.  Thousands  of  vehicles 
sit  on  the  DVP  during  the  morn- 
ing rush  hour,  sputtering  nitrogen 
oxide  into  the  air.  Meanwhile,  vola- 
tile organic  compounds  (VOCs) 
released  from  gasoline,  power 
plants,  construction  sites,  and  pes- 
ticides accumulate  in  the  sky. 


11:29  a.fH.:  Under  the  scorching 
summer  sun,  UV  rays  breaks  down 
nitrogen  oxide  and  VOC's  into 
ground  level  ozone,  which  mixes 
with  particulate  matter  (PM)  like 
road  dust,  forming  a  static  haze  of 
smog.  Among  the  PM  are  dust  and 
acid  aerosols  containing  micro- 
scopic droplets  of  sulphuric  acid 


or  nitric  acid,  easily  able  to  pen- 
etrate the  human  lungs.  Curiously, 
smog  has  been  shown  to  block  UV 
rays  from  reaching  ground  level, 
thus  decreasing  our  risk  of  skin 
cancer,  but  other  factors  like  cloud 
cover,  stratospheric  ozone,  and 
the  presence  of  reflective  surfaces 
also  play  a  role. 

3:12  p.m.:  Ozone  and  sulphur  di- 
oxide have  accumulated  to  the 
highest  levels  of  the  day,  making 
outdoor  exercise  a  serious  health 
danger  to  even  the  young  and 
healthy.  Increased  respiration 
rates  during  exercise  outdoors 
will  admit  PM  into  the  body  where 
it  lodges  deep  in  the  lungs  and  in- 
flames the  tissues  there.  In  combi- 
nation with  extreme  heat,  the  re- 
spiratory system  is  stressed  in  its 
efforts  to  supply  oxygen  and  cool 
the  body,  leading  to  headaches, 
wheezing,  and  weakness.  As  a  re- 
sult, hospitalizations  due  to  heart 
or  lung  disease  have  increased 
to  around  6,000  cases  a  year  and 
1,700  people  die  prematurely. 

9:45  p.m.:  With  nightfall,  smog 
levels  drop  as  the  evening  rush 
hour  peters  down.  The  cooler 
temperature  and  better  air  qual- 
ity make  it  safer  to  be  outside,  but 
the  remains  of  the  day's  smog  can 
last  for  weeks  before  rain  or  wind 
clears  it.  Be  sure  to  check  for  smog 
advisory  warnings  on  the  news  or 
radio  before  you  start  your  day. 
— SANDY HUEN  AND  MANDYLO 


//BYE-BYE  BIRDIE 


Under  a  tree  of  chirping  sparrows,  top,  volunteers  of  FLAP  (Fatal  Light  Awareness 
Program)  held  a  small  memorial  on  June  10  for  birds  that  suffered  fatal  crashes 
into  Toronto  buildings.  Over  824  bird  mortalities  were  found  during  the  2006 
migration  season  by  FLAP  volunteers.  A  red-eyed  vireo,  bottom,  is  held  in 
the  hands  of  a  FLAP  volunteer  before  being  buried  in  a  Toronto  park.  FLAP  in 
co-ordination  with  the  City  of  Toronto  recently  launched  the  Lights  Out  Toronto 
campaign,  which  aims  to  switch  lights  off  in  Toronto  buildings  during  spring  and 
fall  migration  season  to  protect  migratory  birds. 


sports@thevarsity.ca 


VARS 


SPORTS 


MONDAY,  JUNE  19, 2006  7 


Where  to  watch  the  cup  in  Toronto 


Amita  Parikh  

The  Brits  affectionately  refer  to  it  as 
"footy".  The  Brazilians  and  Portuguese 
call  it  "futebol".  And  in  Italy,  it's  known 
as  "calcio".  But  however  you  choose  to 
translate  it,  one  thing  is  certain:  soccer 
fever  has  swept  through  the  streets  of 
Toronto.  Bars  and  cafes  are  packed 
with  both  soccer-crazed  fans  and 
bandwagon-jumpers  alike.  Toronto 
has  suddenly  morphed  from  a  hockey- 
mad  city  into  one  that  eagerly  antici- 
pates Ronaldinho's  fancy  footwork  on 
the  pitch. 

For  most  people,  a  trip  to  Germany 
to  catch  the  action  live  is  out  of  the 
question.  Torontonians  like  myself 
should  thank  their  lucky  stars  that  we 
live  in  such  a  multicultural  city.  With 
over  30  countries  participating  in  the 
World  Cup,  soccer  fans  are  bound 
to  find  a  place  where  they  can  cheer 
on  their  favourite  team.  I  spent  three 
weeks  scouting  out  places  to  watch 
games.  Here's  who  made  the  cut: 

Italy: 

A  stalwart  of  Little  Italy,  Cafe  Diplo- 
matico  has  been  around  for  almost  40 
years.  Located  at  the  corner  of  College 
and  Clinton,  the  cafe  is  broadcasting 
all  games  throughout  the  tournament. 
There's  a  large  television  inside  and 
ten  smaller  ones  out  on  the  patio.  Bo- 
nus: On  the  day  of  the  final  (July  9), 
staff  will  be  giving  away  five  of  the  TVs 
currently  on  the  patio,  as  well  as  free 
Puma  swag. 

Shouts  of  "Forza  Azzurri"  can  be 
heard  at  II  Gatto  Nero,  a  little  further 
west  on  the  College  strip.  The  owners 
regularly  broadcast  Italian  Serie  A  soc- 
cer on  the  TVs,  so  expect  this  place  to 
be  packed  with  locals. 
Cafe  Diplomatico 
594  College.  416-534-4637 
n  Gatto  Nero 
720  College.  416-536-3132 

Brazil/Portugal: 

Soccer  hotspot  La  Cervejaria  was 
jammed  with  fans  watching  Portugal 
beat  Angola  last  week.  Like  many  bars 
along  College,  Cervejaria  brought  in  ex- 
tra TVs  in  anticipation  of  large  crowds. 
You'll  have  to  arrive  fairly  early  if  you 
want  a  seat.  Fans  who  don't  want  to 
strain  their  necks  for  a  view  can  try 
their  luck  at  Rio  40,  a  resto-bar  on 
St.Clair  West  that  draws  in  Brazilian, 
Portuguese  and  Italian  fans.  For  those 
looking  to  head  south  of  College,  If,  a 
lounge  in  Little  Portugal,  will  be  show- 
ing all  the  games. 
La  Cervejaria 
842  College.  416-588-0162 
Rio  40 

1256  St.Clair  W.  416-654-6363 
If  Lounge 

1212  Dundas  St.  W.  416-588-4900 


England: 

If  you  want  to  cheer  on  David  Beck- 
ham (or  just  catch  a  glimpse  of  his 
wife  Posh),  The  Duke  of  Gloucester 
is  the  place  to  be.  Famous  for  attract- 
ing ex-pats,  this  British  style  pub  has 
fans  praying  that  Beckham  and  co. 
will  capture  the  Jules  Rimet  for  the 
first  time  since  1966.  Feel  free  to  join 
them  inside,  or  out  on  the  patio. 

Further  north.  Scallywags  boasts 
three  floors  with  TVs  on  each,  and  no 
cover  charge. 
The  Duke  of  Gloucester 
649  Yonge  St.  upstairs.  416-961-9704 
Scallywags 

list.  Clair  W.  416-922-3737 

Latin  America/South 
America/Spain: 

Spanish,  Latin  American  and  South 
American  fans  can  get  their  fix  at  La 
Romana.  Run  by  a  former  second-di- 
vision Spanish  footballer,  this  place 
is  packed  with  soccer  fans  arguing 
amicably.  Note  that  La  Romana  only 
accepts  cash. 

Closer  to  the  U  of  T  campus,  there 
are  a  fair  number  of  cafes  in  Kensing- 
ton Market  showing  the  games.  The 
televisions  might  be  small,  but  it's 
bustling  and  the  atmosphere  is  great. 
La  Romana 

1286  St.Clair  W.  416-652-6292 
Kensington  Market 

Augusta  Avenue,  just  west  of  Spadina 
and  a  few  blocks  south  of  College. 

Korea 

Koreatown  exploded  during  the  last 
World  Cup,  when  their  team  unex- 
pectedly advanced  to  the  semi-fi- 


nals. You  can  catch  all  the  action  at 
Clinton's  or  across  the  street  at  Tasty 
Restaurant. 
Clinton's 

693  Bloor  W.  416-535-9541 

Tasty  Restaurant 

692  Bloor  W.  416-537-7553 

France/Australia/Germany 

Fans  of  Zinedine  Zidane  should  head 
to  Le  Saint  Tropez  if  they  want  to 
watch  the  French  superstar  play  his 
last  few  games  as  a  professional  foot- 
baller. Australia  is  making  an  appear- 
ance at  the  World  Cup  for  the  first 
time  since  1974.  Order  a  Foster's  and 
cheer  on  the  Socceroos  at  Heming- 
way's, which  has  four  patios.  Host 
country  Germany  is  hoping  to  make 
it  to  the  final  as  they  did  in  2002,  but 
this  time  they'd  prefer  to  win.  The 
Goethe  Institute  is  showing  all  week- 
day games  for  free  on  a  big  screen.  As 
well,  they  have  soccer-themed  mov- 
ies every  Monday  night  till  the  end  of 
June.  Movies  start  at  7  p.m.  and  cost 
$5  per  person. 
Le  Saint  Tropez 
315  King  W.  416-591-3600) 
Hemingway's 

142  Cumberland  St.  416-968-2828 

Goethe  Institute 

163  King  W.  416-593-5257 

Other 

If  you'd  rather  stay  on  campus,  (or 
just  lack  the  money  to  burn  at  bars 
across  the  city),  our  very  own  Arbor 
Room  (in  Hart  House)  is  showing  ev- 
ery game  on  their  big  screen.  As  well, 
games  are  being  broadcast  in  the  lob- 
by of  Sid  Smith  on  weekdays. 


Students  and  fans  erupt  while  watching  England  take  on  Trinidad  and  Tobago  Thursday 
at  Sidney  Smith. 


LSAT  MCAT 
GMAT  GRE 

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i  Thousands  of  Satisfied  Students 


Oxford  Seminars 

416MOI1-800-I?9-1I?9 

www.oxfordseminars.com 


LEGEND  IS  INSIDE 


75  St.  George 
Street 

in  Morrison  Hall 
(across  from 
Sid  Smith) 

M-F  8am-8pm 


Come  check  us  out! 

We  offer  a  daily  lunch  special,  soups, 
baked  goods,  sandwiches,  wraps,  veggies, 
fruit  salads,  yogurts,  sweets,  espressos, 
cappuccinos,  chips,  ice  cream  and  more... 


Top  quality  styles 
at  bottom  line  prices. 

Walk-In  to  Andre-Pierre  and  you'll  get  a  top  professional  haircut,  with 
an  average  wait  time  of  just  five  minutes.  All  at  a  special  reduced  price 
that's  hard  to  beat.  So,  next  time  you're  in  the  area,  just  walk  right  in. 


11:30 

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Regular  Before    Before    After  Saturday 


Men  cut  &  blow  dry  $29 
Women  cut  &  blow  dry  $46 
Cut  &  colour  $110 
^  Cut  &  foil  highlights     $160  ^ 

/  Hair  extensions  and  Japanese  straightening  also  available. 

Cutting  the  hasslesQ  /  since  1972. 

V  55  Bloor  W.  (Manulife  Centre)  416.922.6946 

(Receive  2  hours  free  parking  at  Manulife  Centre) 
22  St.  Clair  E.  (St.  Clair  Centre)  416.923.8780 


8   MONDAY,  JUNE  19, 2006 


VARSITY  SPORTS 


sports@thevarsity.ca 


The  only  prescription  for  world  cup  fever 


w. 


nth  the  World 
Cup  well 
under  way, 
the  trio  of  local  soc- 
cer devotees  Glen  Fer- 
nandes,  Justin  Panos 
and  Gaurav  Thapa  give 
their  opinions  on  who 
j    will  move  on,  who  you 
i  Jif'jA.        should  to  watch, 
^-J'4Mi«mL. —    and  who  will  win 
the  final. 

As  the  second  round  takes  shape, 
what  countries  will  join  the  seven 
already  qualified? 

GAURAV  THAPA  -  While  both  Ger- 
many and  Ecuador  are  in,  Ecuador 
might  be  the  sleeper  team  to  watch. 
With  two  clean  sheets  against  a  hand- 
some tally  of  five  goals  scored,  their 
tournament  performance  is  a  testa- 
ment to  when  statistics  actually  tell 
the  truth.  They've  also  silenced  their 
critics  in  the  South  American  press, 
successfully  playing  their  style  of 
futebol  away  from  the  high  altitude 
of  their  homeland.  Equally  impres- 
sive is  their  commitment  to  the  at- 
tack, refraining  from  putting  ten  men 
behind  the  ball  once  ahead. 
JUSTIN  PANOS  -  No  real  surprises 
in  Group  B  with  Sweden  likely  ad- 
vancing with  England.  Great  play 
from  Paraguay's  keeper  though.  If 
the  offence  could  do  something  to 
match  his  12  saves  they  could  have 
replaced  the  Swedes. 
GLEN  FERNANDES  -  Mexico,  ranked 
fourth  in  the  world,  has  qualified  for 
the  FIFA  World  Cup  12  times,  more 
often  than  heralded  world  powers 


England  and  France.  They  will  be 
tough  to  beat  this  year,  as  last  year's 
FIFA  Confederations  Cup  showed. 
The  Mexicans  defeated  eventual 
winners  Brazil  1-0  in  the  preliminary 
rounds,  before  losing  on  penalties  to 
Argentina  in  the  semi-finals. 

JP  -  The  play  of  Mexico's  Omar 
Bravo  has  been  their  biggest  weap- 
on. They  will  definitely  join  the  Por- 
tuguese in  round  two. 

GF  -  In  Group  E,  the  group  of 
death,  anyone  still  has  a  chance. 
Look  for  a  Czech  Republic  led  by  the 
Czech  canons  Pavel  Nedved  and  To- 
mas  Rosicky  to  make  it  through,  and 
watch  out  for  a  U.S.  team  lead  by  vet- 
erans Donovan  and  Landon,  along 
with  a  roster  made  of  an  Under-17 
World  Cup  championship  team.  If  the 
States  can  get  out  of  this  group,  look 
for  them  to  cause  a  lot  of  trouble  for 
opposing  teams. 

JP  —  1  have  the  Italians  advancing. 
Can  someone  tell  me  why  the  U.S. 
is  ranked  fifth  in  the  FIFA  rankings, 
ahead  of  Argentina  and  England? 
They  did  go  farther  in  2002  but  I 
mean  come  on. 

GT-  Joining  Brazil  in  Group  F  will 
be  the  Socceroos.  Australia's  first 
ever  World  Cup  win  was  a  come- 
from-behind  one  over  Japan.  The 
Aussies  also  showed  the  desire  and 
ability  of  a  true  winner  as  they  nearly 
pulled  off  the  upset  of  the  tourna- 
ment against  Brazil.  Their  dingo-like 
determination  and  the  steady  hand 
of  the  best  coach  in  the  competition 
in  Gus  Hiddink  will  propel  them  to 
the  group  of  16. 

GF  -  I  think  Japan  will  sneak 
through  instead  of  Australia.  They 


are  the  Asian  Champions  of  2006  and 
are  led  by  Asia's  most  formidable 
midfield  in  the  trio  of  Hidetoshi  Na- 
kata,  Shunsuke  Nakamura,  and  Shinji 
Ono. 

GT  -  While  Group  G  is  still  up  in 
the  air,  1  have  the  South  Korean's  top- 
ping it  off.  No  other  Asian  team  runs 
as  hard  or  has  as  loud  and  loyal  a  fan 
base  as  the  South  Koreans.  Park  Ji 
Sung's  meteoric  rise  to  stardom  cou- 
pled with  a  French  team  still  search- 
ing for  its  scoring  shoe  leads  me  to 
cheer  'Go  Reds  Go'. 

GF  -  France  and  South  Korea  both 
have  a  lot  to  prove.  France  needs  to 
redeem  itself  after  its  poor  world  cup 
performance  of  2002  and  South  Ko- 
rea needs  to  prove  that  their  amaz- 
ing run  in  the  last  World  Cup  wasn't  a 
result  of  the  huge  home-field  advan- 
tage. 

JP  -  Group  H's  Spain  should  ad- 
vance, and  I  think  we  might  see  Saudi 
Arabia  along  with  them.  Each  Saudi 
player  will,  receive  $200,000  if  they 
move  on.  What  an  incentive! 

GF  —  Although  Spain  has  never 
lived  up  to  expectations,  an  easy 
group  and  the  duo  of  Cesc  Fabergas 
and  Raul  will  propel  them  onwards. 


Ukraine  should  join  them,  but  their 
success  relies  heavily  on  the  legs  of 
Andriy  Shevchenko,  FIFA's  2004  Eu- 
ropean Footballer  of  the  Year. 

Who  is  your  player  to  watch  in 
the  tournament? 

GF  -  Arjen  Robben.  Netherlands' 
forward  has  an  opportunity  to  show- 
case his  talents  and  perhaps  even 
take  the  Dutch  team  to  a  long  awaited 
World  Cup  Final.  Plagued  by  injuries 
in  Chelsea,  he  is  healthy  and  ready 
to  emerge  as  one  of  the  top  players 
of  this  World  Cup. 

GT  -  Tim  Cahill.  The  lad  can  jump 
higher  than  your  average  kangaroo 
and  is  Australia's  star  on  a  team  to 
look  out  for. 

JP  -  Keep  your  eyes  on  the  two  Ec- 
uador boys  Agustin  Delgado  and  Edi- 
son Mendez.  They  can  work  magic 
and  are  fun  to  watch  if  they  can  keep 
up  the  good  play. 

Who  is  in  the  final  and  who  will 
win? 

GF  -  When  Brazil  challenges  the 
Netherlands  in  what  will  be  one  of 


the  best  finals  in  World  Cup  history, 
look  for  the  Orange  to  be  crowned 
champions  as  the  Dutch  team  wins 
its  first  ever  championship.  Only 
Ronaldinho  might  stop  them  but  my 
bet  is  no  one  steals  Holland's  mo- 
ment on  this  day. 

GT  —  The  conquering  Czech  Re- 
public against  the  omnipresent  Bra- 
zilian squad.  The  old  horses  in  the 
Czech  midfield  will  be  teetering  by 
this  stage  and  the  likes  of  Kaka  and 
Ronaldinho  will  tear  them  apart.  I 
see  the  canaries  winning  the  trophy 
for  a  record  sixth  time  while  the  Bra- 
zilian fans  chant  "Hexa  hexa". 

JP  -  There  is  no  better  life  on  earth 
than  the  life  of  a  Brazilian  soccer 
player.  They  are  God-like.  Reverence 
aside,  I  am  going  to  say  Argentina 
pins  a  loss  on  Brazil  in  the  final.  There 
it  is  peeps,  Argentina  over  Brazil. 


//ONLINE  EXCLUSIVE 


Catch  JAMIE  MCCALLUM's 
exclusive  on  NBA  MVP  Steve 
Nash  at  www.thevarsity.ca 


DOWNTOWN  TORONTO  By  Jason  Kieffer 


CLASSIFIEDS 


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EXPERT  PROFESSIONAL  EDITING 

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theatre  company  I 


theYARSlTY 


MONDAY,  JULY  24, 2006 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  TORONTO'S  STUDENT  NEWSPAPER  SINCE  1880 


//HOPPING  THE  SUMMER  AWAY 


Anthony  (left)  and  Angus  (right)  bust  a  move  at  LGBTOUT's  first  homohop  back  at  U  of  T,  on  July  14.  Begun  in  1979,  the  queer-friendly  dances  were  exiled  from  campus  in  2001 
when  their  previous  venue,  a  student-run  pub  in  Sidney  Smith  Hall,  was  shut  down  by  the  university.  In  the  meantime,  LGBTOUT  had  put  on  homohops  at  Five  nightclub,  but  it 
found  itself  without  a  home  again  on  May  20,  when  Five  pulled  the  plug  on  it  amid  bitter  bickering. 


Trade  ya  for  a  seat  in  psych? 


Chandler  Levack 

VARSITY  STAFF 


At  the  largest  university  in  Canada, 
you  can't  always  get  what  you  want. 

Noaman  Ali,  the  incoming  presi- 
dent of  the  Arts  and  Science  Student 
Union  (ASSU),  was  "amused"  to  find 
a  flyer  posted  in  2005,  offering  $100 
for  a  spot  in  a  make-or-break  psy- 
chology class. 

Other  students  have  remarked 
that  they  have  seen  similar  flyers 
posted  around  Robarts  and  Sid 
Smith  in  the  past  year,  all  offering 
monetary  rewards  in  exchange  for 
hard-to-get  spots  in  popular  or  man- 
datory classes.  Ali  said  he  has  heard 
of  other  methods,  too. 

"A  friend  of  mine  was  telling  me 
that  he  couldn't  get  into  the  courses 
he  wanted,  so  he  tried  to  get  into 
courses  that  he  knew  that  others 
would  want  so  that  he  could  per- 
haps pull  off  a  trade." 

And  there  are  rumours  of  comput- 
er science  students  programming 
detailed  macros  into  their  laptops, 
so  that  they  can  log  on  to  ROSI,  the 
online  course  selection  system,  100 
times  a  day  without  having  to  be 
physically  present  for  the  torturous 
task. 

Maybe  you've  agreed  to  sign  up  for 
a  class  that  a  friend  with  a  lousy  start 
time  couldn't  nab.  Maybe  you've 
even  signed  up  for  a  false  major  or 
minor,  grabbed  a  class  you  couldn't 
obtain  otherwise,  and  then  dropped 
your  new  major  like  it  was  hot.  The 
fact  is  that  as  the  Faculty  of  Arts  and 
Science  relies  increasingly  on  ROSI, 
students  are  finding  more  ways  to 
cheat  the  automated  system. 

Course  enrollment  at  Canada's 


largest  university  has  never  been 
easy.  At  last  count,  over  27,000  full- 
time  students  were  trying  to  find 
their  way  into  over  4,000  sections,  in 
over  200  specified  programs  in  the 
Faculty  of  Arts  and  Science  alone. 
With  enrolment  spiking  by  about 
1.5  per  cent,  too  many  students  are 
scrambling  for  too  few  spots. 

Richard  Chow,  associate  regis- 
trar of  registration  and  enrolment, 
recalls  that  when  ROSI  was  first  in- 
stalled, sans  start  times,  the  entire 
student  population  would  try  to  log 
in  at  once,  resulting  in  dramatic  sys- 
tem crashes.  Even  after  automated 
start  times  were  set  in  place  for  stu- 
dents in  specific  years  of  study  and 
academic  streams,  ROSI  still  had 
problems. 

Students  would  log  in  many  times 
a  day  trying  to  get  into  a  desired 
course,  with  the  result  being  sys- 
tem sluggishness  and  freezes  that 
Ali  called  "a  pain  in  the  ass  to  deal 
with." 

To  alleviate  some  of  the  conges- 
tion, a  new  feature  was  launched  for 
this  year's  round  of  enrolment:  wait- 
lists. The  waitlist  system  was  de- 
veloped after  reading  responses  on 
course  selection  in  the  March  2006 
Arts  and  Science  survey.  The  often 
candid  and  frustrated  comments  on 
their  course  enrolment  experience, 
especially  from  upper  year  stu- 
dents, struck  a  chord  with  the  fac- 
ulty registrar.  A  student  experience 
committee  was  created  to  work  with 
the  Student  Web  Sei'vice  in  develop- 
ing the  new  waitlist  system.  Now, 
Chow  explains,  instead  of  checking 
to  see  if  you've  gotten  into  a  desired 
class,  you  will  simply  be  entered  on 
to  the  waitlist  system  if  you  have  pri- 


ority. If  someone  decides  to  drop  the 
class,  you  move  up  on  the  list.  The 
best  part  is  that  students  can  actu- 
ally see  their  rank,  "so  that  what  is 
presented  to  you,  applies  to  you," 
Chow  notes. 

As  of  July  18,  5,000  students  had 
already  been  enrolled  on  a  waitlist 
for  spots  in  70,000  spaces  of  lecture 
enrolments.  Chow  estimated  that 
one  in  14  students  are  registered  for 
a  spot  in  a  class  they  may  or  may  not 
obtain.  "Idealistically,  there  should 
be  no  waitlists  because  everyone 
gets  what  they  want... but  there  are 
options  for  students  other  than  that 
course,"  he  said. 

Some  students  have  lodged  com- 
plaints about  the  system.  Andrew 
Jevan,  a  fourth-year  philosophy  stu- 
dent writes  in  an  open  email  to  the 
Faculty  of  Arts  and  Science,  "The 
way  the  new  system  is  designed,  stu- 
dents who  want  to  secure  a  full  set  of 
five  courses  will  no  longer  have  the 


opportunity  to  improve  their  selec- 
tions because  they  will  not  be  eligi- 
ble for  the  waiting  lists.  On  the  other 
hand,  students  who  sit  on  waiting 
lists  risk  not  being  able  to  take  a  full 
course  load." 

A  good  case  in  point  is  the  cur- 
rent waitlist  for  PHL388H1,  a  third 
year  seminar  on  literature  and  phi- 
losophy, with  token  hot  prof  Mark 
Kingwell.  At  last  count  there  were 
38  spots  in  the  class,  60  students 
on  the  waitlist.  Chow  reveals  that  in 
some  cases,  departments  don't  like 
to  publish  who  will  be  teaching  the 
class  in  the  timetable  listings,  for 
fear  that  whoever  the  professor  is 
will  sway  course  enrolment  too  dra- 
matically. 

But  what  about  the  student  who 
just  plain  really,  really  wants  the 
class?  "Some  of  these  things  we 
can't  change,"  said  Chow.  "And  if 
someone  asked,  "Can  we  change?" 
we  might  just  say,  'we  cannot'," 


www.thevarsity.ca 


VOL.  cxxvn,  NO.  3 


Develop- 
ment 
institute 
proposed 


Ben  Spurr 


"The  largest  threat  to  our  world  to- 
day is  not  the  issues  that  are  caus- 
ing the  problems,  but  our  ignorance 
and  naivety,"  said  Asif  Farooq,  direc- 
tor-general of  U  of  T  campus  group, 
the  Humanitarian  Response  Council 
(HRC). 

That's  why  the  HRC  has  teamed 
up  with  leading  U  of  T  academics  to 
spearhead  a  proposal  to  create  an  in- 
stitute for  global  sustainable  develop- 
ment at  the  university.  The  proposed 
institute  would  address  issues  such 
as  urbanization,  environmental  main- 
tenance, and  poverty  reduction. 

Farooq,  a  23-year-old  undergradu- 
ate economics  student,  has  been  con- 
sulting with  Dr.  Thomas  Homer-Dix- 
on,  director  of  the  Trudeau  Centre, 
and  Dr.  Prabhat  Jha,  director  of  the 
Centre  for  Global  Health  Research, 
among  others. 

"If  you  have  noticed,  most  of  the 

SEE  INSTITUTE' -PG  2 


Tuition 
tit-for-tat 

CFS,  SAC  say  U  of  T 
breached  Ontario's 
tuition  rules 

Andre  Bovee-Begun  

U  of  T's  Student  Administrative  Coun- 
cil (SAC)  is  demanding  the  university 
explain  an  apparent  12.3  per  cent  in- 
crease in  the  tuition  revenue  budget 
for  next  year. 

SAC  claimed  the  increase  contra- 
venes the  five  per  cent  limit  set  by  the 
Ontario  government's  rules  on  tuition 
fee  hikes.  The  university,  however, 
has  insisted  that  the  projected  $47- 
million  increase  in  tuition  revenue 
does  not  violate  any  regulations,  and 
that  tuition  fees  are  increasing  by  less 
that  five  per  cent,  on  average. 

The  dispute  began  with  a  press 
release  put  out  on  June  27  by  the  Ca- 
nadian Federation  of  Students  (CFS), 
announcing  that  U  of  T,  Ryerson, 
and  Lakehead  University  "appear  to 
be"  planning  to  increase  tuition  fees 
above  the  institutional  limit.  The  re- 
lease gave  no  hard  figures,  but  raised 
the  suggestion  that  the  institutions' 
are  exploiting  complicated  provincial 
regulations  to  make  tuition  increases 
difficult  to  interpret. 

Ontario's  "Reaching  Higher"  frame- 
work, unveiled  in  March,  sets  out 
rules  for  tuition  increases  at  univer- 
sities and  colleges  in  the  province.  It 
allows  different  tuition  increases  for 
different  programs  and  even  years 
of  study.  For  example,  most  Arts  and 

SEE  TUITION' -PG 2 


2   MONDAY,  JULY  24, 2006 


VARSITY  NEWS 


news@thevarsity.ca 


// BUSINESS  &  TECHNOLOGY 


Might  Anand  Agarawala  have  his  finger  on  something? 


Desktop  2.0 

If  someone's  stature  is  determined 
by  the  amount  of  clutter  on  their 
desk,  then  comp  sci  master's  grad- 
uate Anand  Agarawala  must  be  a 
big  shot  on  campus. 

And  though  he  seemed  particu- 
larly adept  at  pushing  paper,  pho- 
tos, and  files  around — all  with  the 
tip  of  one  finger — his  clutter  was  of 
the  virtual  kind. 

Compare  that  with  the  frustra- 
tion of  using  a  "stylus"  on  a  touch- 
screen monitor  or  a  tablet  PC, 
Agarawala  said.  "When  you  try  to 
double-click  with  a  pen  it's  a  real 
pain  in  the  ass." 

So  he  made  it  his  master's  the- 
sis in  2004  to  design  a  "pen  and 
finger-friendly"  computer  desktop 
interface.  He  worked  with  Ravin 
Balakrishnan  of  the  department  of 
computer  science. 

Their  product,  called  BumpTop, 


allows  users  to  interact  with  files 
on  a  computer  desktop  much  as 
they  would  at  their  own,  real-world 
desks.  You  can  toss  files  around, 
stack  them  by  type  or  date  and  flip 
through  them,  or  even  tack  them  to 
the  sides  of  the  workspace.  Press- 
ing assignments  can  be  made  to 
loom  large  on  the  desktop;  once 
complete,  they  can  be  "crumpled 
up,"  before  being  deleted. 

The  same  computer  program 
used  simulate  the  carnage  in  games 
such  as  Unreal  Tournament  con- 
trols the  bumping  and  bouncing 
of  files  in  Agarawala's  BumpTop. 
And  after  showing  it  off  in  May  at 
a  meeting  of  DevCamp,  ("A  'who's 
who'  in  the  Toronto  IT  scene,"  said 
Agarawala),  BumpTop  has  been 
generating  buzz. 

Technology  blogs  Slashdot  and 
Digg  have  picked  it  up,  as  has  CBC 


News.  Some  geeks  in  the  blogo- 
sphere  cheered  Agarawala's  dem- 
onstration video;  others  challenged 
BumpTop's  visual  metaphor. 

"The  correct  solution  to  a  bunch 
of  file  icons  all  over  your  desktop  is 
NOT  to  come  up  with  a  better  way 
of  stacking  them  and  manipulating 
them,"  groused  a  reader  of  Life- 
Hacker.com,  which  also  "linked"  to 
BumpTop. 

A  fully-working  version  might  be 
ready  in  the  fall.  "We  want  to  push 
towards  a  beta,"  said  Agarawala.  "I 
guess  we're  exploring  the  commer- 
cial option." 

But,  as  with  any  master's  project, 
all  is  not  quite  right. 

"There's  still  bugs  in  it,  to  some 
degree,"  he  winced,  as  a  rebellious 
pile  of  files  unfurled  across  the  vir- 
tual desktop. 
—MIKE  GHENU 


Eye  on  the  planet:  a  bright  future  for  "geo-tagging"? 


The  days  of  backpacking  guides 
written  by  Harvard  students  that 
direct  you  to  a  "hostel"  that  turns 
out  to  be  a  hovel  may  be  num- 
bered. 

If  a  project  by  Jenny  McCarthy 
and  Slava  Sakhnenko,  two  com- 
puter science  grads  now  part  of 
a  start-up,  Planeteye,  pans  out, 
that  is. 

The  service  Planeteye  plans 
to  offer  adds  "geo-tags"  to  pho- 
tographs or  movie  files,  and  will 
allow  users  to  search  for  media 
based  on  where  in  the  world  they 
were  taken.  Users  upload  images 
on  to  Planeteye 's  servers  and  geo- 
tag  them  or  any  existing  online 
photos.  Visitors  can  then  enter 
a  location  or  landmark,  and  see 
far-off  places  through  a  previous 
traveller's  photo  lens. 

"By  mapping  all  these  locations 
on  a  map  and  linking  different 
media  to  them,  you  go  past  hav- 
ing to  read  articles  that  people 


submitted,  and  actually  see  what 
it  would  be  like  to  be  there,"  said 
Sakhnenko. 

Planeteye  grew  out  of  a  fourth- 
year  project  for  a  computer  sci- 
ence course,  Business  of  Soft- 
ware, that  McCarthy,  Sakhnenko, 
and  three  other  students  present- 
ed to  faculty  and  industry  types 
in  May  2005. 

After  the  presentation,  they 
were  approached  by  Rick  Segal, 
a  venture  capitalist  with  JLA  Ven- 
tures. Segal  asked  them  to  spend 
the  summer  as  interns  to  hone 
their  idea,  they  said. 

After  more  work,  including  a 
month-long  backpacking  mission 
to  Europe  to  find  out  what  travel- 
ers want  and  need,  Planeteye  was 
formed,  earlier  this  year,  to  bring 
their  idea  to  market.  In  May,  Plan- 
eteye struck  a  deal  with  Micro- 
soft, allowing  them  to  use  patents 
previously  held  by  the  company. 
It  hopes  to  have  a  beta  version  of 


its  service  running  by  the  end  of 
the  summer. 

Still,  the  main  hurdle  will  be  get- 
ting people  to  assign  a  location 
to  photos,  Sakhnenko  admitted. 
But  that  may  change  as  mobile 
phones  with  GPS  units  enter  the 
market — as  they  are  beginning 
to  do  in  Asia,  McCarthy  pointed 
out. 

Alternately,  users  would  drag  a 
location  marker  for  each  photo  on 
to  the  corresponding  position  on 
the  map — "internet  drag'n  drop," 
in  geek-speak. 

To  turn  a  profit,  Planeteye  could 
tempt  users  to  click  on  targeted 
ads,  racking  up  "live  ad  revenues," 
McCarthy  said.  The  company  is 
eyeing  the  travel  industry. 

"Based  on  location-searching, 
it  would  pop  up  a  list  of  spon- 
sored hotels,"  said  Sakhnenko. 
"And  since  we're  a  map-based  ap- 
plication [the  advertising]  cary 
really  relevant." 


UTIF  restructured 
after  losing  $llm 


Allison  Martell 

VARSITY  STAFF 


According  to  a  glossy  pamphlet  pro- 
vided by  university  administration,  U 
of  T  professor  Dave  Boocock  is  having 
great  success  with  the  commercializa- 
tion of  his  biodiesel  product,  Bioxx. 
But  the  organization  that  helped  him 
get  started,  the  University  of  Toronto 
Innovation  Foundation  (UTIF),  has 
been  replaced. 

"The  projections  for  that  business 
[UTIF]  said  that  it  would  make  money 
or  at  least  break  even.  It  didn't,"  said 
Catherine  Riggall,  vice  president, 
business  affairs.  In  fact,  UTIF  lost  $11 
million  in  university  funds  over  three 
years.  This  spring,  Governing  Council 
created  a  new  department  to  replaced 
UTIF:  Innovations  at  the  University  of 
Toronto  (lUT). 

From  their  shiny  new  office  at  the 
MaRS  Centre,  lUT  will  help  research- 
ers disclose  their  inventions,  apply 
for  patents,  and  launch  business  ven- 
tures. lUT  will  not,  however,  invest  in 
start-up  companies,  as  UTIF  did.  With 
essentially  the  same  staff  as  UTIF,  lUT 
has  slightly  less  funding,  at  about  $3 
million  per  year. 

Dr  Tim  McTiernan  has  taken  the 
helm  as  executive  director  Former 
assistant  deputy  minister  in  the  Min- 
istry of  Research  and  Innovation, 
McTiernan's  work  is  the  commercial- 
ization of  research.  But  his  idea  of 
commercialization  is  broad. 

"It  is  working  not  just  for  business 
purposes  but  for  areas  like  health 
service  and  public  service  delivery," 
he  said.  "And  if  you  think  about  it  in 
the  broadest  possible  context,  trans- 
lating work  that's  underway  in  the 
arts  and  humanities  into  community 
activities." 

Riggall  recommended  the  restruc- 
turing in  part  because  she  thinks  that 


the  University  of  Toronto  is  lagging 
behind  similar  universities  in  com- 
mercializing research. 

"We  don't  think  we're  getting 
enough  compared  to  other  univer- 
sities, considering  the  size  and  the 
number  of  researchers  we  have  here 
and  the  success  of  our  researchers," 
she  said. 

Coralie  D'Souza,  an  undergraduate 
representative  on  Governing  Council, 
also  supports  the  changes,  and  has 
ideas  of  her  own  for  advisory  commit- 
tees that  will  steer  lUT.  Their  makeup 
has  not  yet  been  decided. 

"What  I  suggested  at  planning  and 
budget  is  that  we  should  be  tapping 
into  our  business  school,  Rotman," 
she  said.  "We've  got  some  of  the 
brightest  minds  there  and  we  should 
be  using  them  to  look  at  how  we  are 
promoting  these  products." 

She  also  thinks  that  there  should 
be  student  representation  on  the 
councils,  to  keep  lUT  accountable, 
and  also  because  "it's  an  opportunity 
for  students  to  learn  and  observe  how 
these  sorts  of  organizations  function, 
from  an  educational  perspective." 

But  with  all  the  excitement  over 
commercialization  and  applied  re- 
search, some  worry  that  more  theo- 
retical work  will  be  neglected.  It's 
something  that  McTiernan  has  been 
thinking  about. 

"Applied  research  without  attention 
to  sustaining  general  research  across 
a  range  of  disciplines  is  a  short-term 
exercise,"  he  said.  "It's  very  hard  to 
go  back  to  the  public  purse  over  and 
over  again  and  ask  for  money  without 
saying  there  is  value  to  the  average 
taxpayer,  but  there's  also  an  under- 
standing that  a  lot  of  the  truly  great 
discoveries  in  the  world  that  have 
changed  the  way  we  act,  we  behave, 
and  the  quality  of  our  lives  are  ones 
that  can't  be  pre-planned." 


'INSTITUTE'  -  CONTINUED  FROM  PG  1 

[humanitarian  campus  groups  at 
U  of  T]  die  out  in  a  year  or  two  be- 
cause there  is  a  lack  of  active  support 
among  students  collectively,"  said  Fa- 
rooq.  "It  is  only  through  rigorous  aca- 
demic involvement  that  we  can  make 
the  students  in  general  have  a  better 
understanding." 

Farooq  said  that  U  of  T  is  lagging 
behind  schools  such  as  Harvard, 
Columbia,  and  the  London  School  of 
Economics,  all  of  which  have  institu- 
tions dedicated  to  development  stud- 
ies. While  he  admired  the  work  being 
undertaken  at  the  Centres  for  Inter- 
national Health  and  for  Global  Health 
Research,  he  argued  that  the  univer- 
sity must  widen  its  scope. 

"U  of  T,  because  of  its  good  reputa- 
tion, its  diverse  faculty  and  popula- 
tion, has  a  special  opportunity"  to 
address  global  issues,  said  Jha.  "It's 
important  for  Toronto  to  step  up  to 
some  big  global  challenges,  and  that 
involves  having  a  broader  outlook 
than  any  one  single  department  or 
program  can  offer." 

The  proposed  institute  would  coor- 
dinate research  between  the  universi- 
ty's existing  departments  and  centres, 
such  as  the  faculty  of  law,  the  Trudeau 
Centre  for  Peace  and  Conflict  Studies, 


and  the  Institute  of  Medical  Science.  It 
would  offer  a  master's  in  international 
policy  and  development,  as  well  as  a 
post-doctoral  program. 

It  is  hoped  that  research  produced 
at  the  institute  would  make  direct 
contributions  towards  solving  some 
of  the  developing  world's  gravest 
problems,  as  well  as  elevate  U  of  T's 
status  as  an  internationally  influential 
university. 

While  funding  issues  would  likely 
be  the  biggest  obstacle  to  implement- 
ing the  HCR's  plan,  Jha  envisions  an 
institute  that  would  not,  at  least  ini- 
tially, require  a  huge  investment  from 
the  administration. 

"I  think  the  thing  that  is  exciting 
is  that  you  don't  necessarily  need  to 
spend  a  lot  of  money  on  bricks  and 
mortar,"  he  said.  Existing  university 
buildings  could  house  the  institute. 
"A  virtual  program  that  is  very  light  is 
possible,"  he  said. 

The  proposal  has  not  yet  been 
formally  presented  to  the  university, 
but  Farooq  hoped  that  Jeffrey  Sachs, 
special  advisor  to  the  U.N.  and  direc- 
tor of  the  Earth  Institute  at  Columbia 
University,  may  come  to  U  of  T  in  the 
coming  months,  which  might  help  sell 
the  administration  on  the  plan.  He 
said  that  Sachs  has  been  aiding  him 
in  developing  the  proposal. 


•TUITION'  -  CONTINUED  FROM  PG  1 

Science  students  continuing  at  U  of  T 
will  see  fees  go  up  by  around  four  per 
cent,  while  students  entering  an  En- 
gineering program  will  pay  eight  per 
cent  more  than  last  year's  students. 
But  the  framework  sets  a  five  per  cent 
cap  on  the  average  tuition  increase  in- 
stitution-wide. 

According  to  Mamy  Scully,  U  of  T's 
director  of  enrolment  (planning  and 
statistics),  only  $13.3  million  out  of 


the  $47  million  projection  is  subject 
to  the  tuition  increase  rules.  Across 
57,000  full-time  domestic  students, 
this  accounts  for  an  average  increase 
of  just  over  four  per  cent.  Much  of 
the  remaining  revenue  comes  from 
international  students  and  those  tak- 
ing professional  degrees  like  U  of  T's 
Executive  MBA.  Neither  group  is  regu- 
lated by  Ontario's  tuition  fee  rules. 

CPS,  however,  fears  that  the  fee  hike 
rules  are  murky,  and  open  the  door 
for  effective  deregulation  of  tuition 


fees.  An  institution's  tuition  revenue 
budget  must  be  based  on  enrolment 
projections,  which  cannot  be  con- 
firmed until  January  of  the  upcom- 
ing year  Only  then  can  the  Ontario 
government  enforce  the  regulations, 
either  by  lowering  operating  grants 
of  offending  universities,  or  forcing 
these  schools  to  give  partial  refunds. 
Unfortunately,  the  first  option  simply 
reduces  the  quality  of  student  educa- 
tion, and  the  tuition  rules  don't  give 
a  clear  understanding  of  which  stu- 


dents should  be  reimbursed,  the  CPS 
argues. 

Jesse  Greener,  its  Ontario  chairper- 
son, said  the  release  touched  a  nerve 
among  university  administrators, 
who  he  feels  are  not  comfortable  with 
students  "prying  into"  universities' 
budget  processes. 

"We're  letting  them  know  students 
are  watching  them,"  said  Greener 

SAC  VP  External  Paul  Bretscher  said 
that  university  administrators  are  be- 
ing alarmingly  defensive  when  asked 


to  justify  increased  revenue  from 
students.  SAC  believes  the  province's 
tuition  fee  rules  are  not  sufficiently 
clear  and  are  unenforceable  in  prac- 
tice, and  has  been  advocating  to  make 
universities  directly  accountable  for 
implementing  government  policy. 

For  his  part,  in  the  Governing  Coun- 
cil meeting  on  June  29,  university 
president  David  Naylor  said  the  re- 
lease was  "a  misinterpretation  by  CFS 
of  numbers  and  budget  statements," 
calling  it  regrettable. 


news@thevarsity.ca   VARSITY  NEWS  MONDAY, JULY  24, 2006  3 

Escape  from  Beirut 


MEMORIES  OF  SAIGON:  An  American  helicopter  takes  off  from  the  American  Embassy  in  Beirut  on  July  16. 


While  teaching  English  in  a  refugee  camp  outside  Beirut,  GUS  CONSTANTINOU  found  himself  in  the  line  of  fire 


The  sounds  of  fireworks  were  something 
one  easily  got  used  to  in  Bourj  el-Bara- 
jneh,  a  Palestinian  refugee  camp  on  the 
outskirts  of  Beirut.  The  World  Cup  had  made 
for  regular  cracking  noises  and  excitement.  For 
a  whole  week  the  only  question  I  was  answer- 
ing was  a  combination  of  "Italia  or  Brasil?" 

But  there  was  something  out  of  the  ordi- 
nary about  the  sounds  on  Wednesday,  July  12. 
They  were  louder,  more  powerful.  Besides,  the 
World  Cup  was  long  over. 

1  was  in  the  middle  of  a  game  of  hangman 
with  my  morning  class  when  a  bearded  and 
burly  man  entered  the  classroom.  He  carried 
a  bag  of  candies.  Holding  up  two  fingers,  he 
told  the  children  something  in  Arabic  I  could 
not  understand.  Shortly  thereafter,  he  apolo- 
gized and  left  the  room.  1  asked  my  translator 
what  had  happened.  She  explained  that  He- 
zbollah had  killed  three  Israeli  soldiers  and 
taken  two  hostage  on  the  Lebanese-Israeli 
border,  an  area  of  southern  Lebanon  that  was 
their  stronghold.  The  sounds  I  was  hearing 
were  gunshots;  the  sweets  to  support  the  re- 
sistance. Following  class,  an  excited  and  pan- 
icked buzz  permeated  Beirut. 

At  the  time,  the  consensus  was  that  the 
whole  ordeal  would  blow  over.  That  night  I 
watched  the  news  with  Bilad,  a  soft  spoken 
clerk  I  had  befriended.  While  agreeing  that 
another  war  in  the  region  was  inevitable,  he 
didn't  think  the  pieces  were  in  place  just  yet. 

"Tonight  the  Israelis  will  only  fly  their  jets 
low  to  break  the  sound  barrier;  they  will  try 
to  scare  us,  and  then  they  will  negotiate,"  he 
said,  with  a  wave  of  his  arm  that  told  me  not  to 


worry.  This  was  merely  business  as  usual. 

Not  so.  The  next  day,  July  13,  the  program  of 
the  Canadian  NGO  I  was  working  with  would 
be  canceled  as  a  result  of  the  Israeli  response 
to  Hezbollah's  operation  in  southern  Lebanon. 
Our  evacuation  would  soon  follow. 

The  Israeli  response  began  at  6  a.m.  Thurs- 
day morning.  Its  air  force  began  by  focusing 
on  Hezbollah-controlled  areas  in  southern 
Lebanon,  the  Beqaa  valley,  and  the  southern 
suburbs  of  Beirut,  including  the  runways  at 
the  International  Airport  and  the  Hezbollah 
TV  station  in  the  southern  suburb  of  Haret 
Hreik.  As  the  attacks  in  south  Beirut  unfold- 
ed, I  counted  eight  sonic  booms  outside  our 
house  in  Bourj  el-Barajneh  refugee  camp.  The 
camp  itself  is  located  in  a  southern  suburb  of 
Beirut,  Bourj  el-Barajneh,  close  to  the  area  of 
Dahyieh  and  connected  to  Haret  Hreik,  where 
Hezbollah  offices  and  headquarters  are  lo- 
cated, therefore  making  it  a  military  target  for 
the  Israeli  air  force.  It  is  also  a  few  miles  from 
the  airport. 

That  morning  I  went  to  my  classes,  but  they 
had  been  canceled.  The  mood  in  Beirut  had 
also  changed.  Soldiers  in  the  streets  were  now 
wearing  their  steel  helmets,  betraying  uneasy 
gazes.  Nationalistic  marching  music  blasted  in 
taxis.  Children  were  now  asking  me  "Israel  or 
Hezbollah?" 

At  about  2  p.m.  the  NGO  team  was  evacu- 
ated from  the  refugee  camp.  Bilad  came 
knocking  at  my  door  as  I  napped.  Urgency 
had  replaced  his  normally  calm  demeanor.  We 
were  told  to  rapidly  pack  a  small  bag  of  our 
most  important  belongings,  naively  thinking 


we  would  return.  We  were  sent  to  a  friend's 
house  in  Hamra,  a  safer  area  of  Beirut,  near 
the  American  University.  Three  volunteers  in 
another  refugee  camp  in  eastern  Lebanon,  the 
Beqaa,  were  also  evacuated  with  us  to  Hamra 
after  Israeli  jets  began  pounding  roads  and 
infrastructure  sites  there.  A  few  hours  after 
our  arrival  in  Hamra,  Israeli  forces  dropped 
flyers  over  the  southern  suburbs  of  Beirut,  in- 
cluding the  Bourj  el-Barajneh  area,  warning  of 
bombings  and  advising  civilians  to  evacuate. 
The  situation  was  escalating  at  an  unpredict- 
able pace.  Premature  or  not,  we  were  leaving 
Lebanon. 

Taking  the  advice  of  the  many  NGOs  we 
worked  with,  and  a  variety  of  other  local  con- 
tacts, we  left  Lebanon  for  Syria  at  about  9  p.m., 
along  the  Beirut-Damascus  highway.  The  high- 
way was  bombed  by  the  Israeli  air  force  about 
an  hour  after  we  traveled  on  it.  From  the  front 
seat  of  the  taxi,  my  last  glimpse  of  Beirut  was 
watching  the  flames  of  a  bombed  airport  fuel 
tanker  rage  into  the  night.  Israeli  bombing  on 
Thursday  alone  killed  61  civilians  and  injured 
150  across  Lebanon. 

We  were  fortunate  to  have  left  when  we  did. 
Due  to  continued  Israeli  bombing,  notably  the 
bombing  of  a  minibus  on  July  15,  where  20 
civilians — including  15  children — were  killed 
fleeing  their  home  the  price  of  evacuation  has 
steadily  risen.  Our  own  ride  cost  US$50  a  per- 
son. The  same  ride  now  costs  US$2,500.  From 
Syria  we  headed  to  Jordan,  hoping  in  vain  for 
a  ceasefire.  Instead,  the  media  fed  a  steady 
dosage  of  escalating  death  tolls,  images  of 
carnage,  and  military  rhetoric.  We  were  going 


(BEIRUT 


Harat  Hreik  and 
Bourj  el-Barajneh  area 


Rafik  Hariri 
Int'l  Airport 


home. 

A  flight  to  Germany,  a  train  ride  to  the  Czech 
Republic,  and  a  final  flight  to  Canada  all  passed 
like  a  waking  dream.  The  dash  for  self  preser- 
vation hardly  seemed  worth  the  effort.  We  left 
Bourj  el-Barajneh  without  saying  goodbye  to 
the  families  that  had  housed  and  fed  us.  We 
left  Lebanon  without  saying  goodbye  to  the 
eager  students  who  everyday  waited  our  les- 
sons. We  made  it  home  on  the  sacrifice  of  the 
very  people  we  had  come  to  help.  In  the  end, 
they  helped  us. 


Radical  Roots  in  contract  row  with  admin,  ISC 


Malcolm  Johnston 

VARSITY  STAFF 


Radical  Roots,  U  of  T's  not-for-profit 
student-run  vegan  eatery,  is  newly 
homeless  after  the  university  dis- 
continued its  contract  with  the  outfit 
May  1. 

Ancillary  Services,  which  oversees 
all  food  services  at  the  university, 
cited  problems  with  Radical  Roots' 
business  plan,  which  they  submit- 
ted in  the  early  spring.  All  university 
food  services  are  required  to  submit 
such  plans  every  few  years. 

Agata  Durkalec,  financial  coordi- 
nator of  Radical  Roots,  said  that  the 
contract's  cancellation  has  hit  her 
organization  hard. 


"After  five  years  of  work,  if  felt  like 
someone  had  taken  a  long,  metal 
weapon  and  broken  my  back,  and 
this  whole  organization's,"  she  said. 
"We  had  spent  the  last  year  planning 
for  the  coming  years.  It's  been  very 
disempowering." 

Durkalec  suspected  that  the  Inter- 
national Student  Centre  (ISC)  and  U 
of  T's  Ancillary  Services  conspired 
to  oust  them,  due  to  "a  different  vi- 
sion of  what  they'd  like  to  see  in  that 
space,"  she  said. 

Dermot  Brennan,  program  direc- 
tor at  the  ISC,  which  leases  the  space, 
admitted  that  the  ISC  is  able  to  make 
some  stipulations  to  Ancillary  Ser- 
vices about  whom  they  would  like  to 
fill  the  space.  But  he  maintained  that 


the  ISC  is  and  has  been  supportive  of 
Radical  Roots. 

"We're  their  best  advocates,"  he 
said.  "We  don't  want  a  big  corporate 
thing  in  here....  Our  first  concern  is 
to  provide  for  the  needs  of  interna- 
tional students.  That  means  we  want 
someone  who  recognizes  cultural 
diversity  and  is  socially  conscious," 
he  said.  And,  while  the  relationship 
with  Radical  Roots  has  been  "rough 
around  the  edges,"  said  Brennan, 
it  has  been  "on  the  whole  pretty 
good." 

Brennan  said  that  he  has  been  try- 
ing for  months  to  contact  the  Radical 
Roots  managers,  but  that  they  have 
hardly  been  around  since  April.  "I 
saw  one  of  them  in  the  [ISC]  garden  a 


month  ago,  but  that  was  it,"  he  said. 

Meanwhile,  Ancillary  Services 
denied  having  made  any  effort  to  re- 
place the  organization  with  another 
food  service  provider,  rejecting  ac- 
cusations of  foul  play. 

"If  the  ISC  didn't  want  them  there, 
we  wouldn't  be  operating  with  the 
assumption  that  they  would  be  in 
there;  we  wouldn't  be  giving  them 
the  space  for  free  in  the  summer," 
said  Gayle  McBurnie,  manager  of  An- 
cillary Services.  The  issue,  she  said, 
lies  in  Radical  Roots'  business  plan, 
which  Ancillary  Services  Director 
Anne  MacDonald  deemed  unfeasible 
in  May. 

"We  have  decided  that  further  re- 
view of  the  use  of  the  kitchen  and 


dining  space  in  the  kitchen  is  re- 
quired this  summer,"  wrote  MacDon- 
aldwho  was  unavailable  for  comment 
at  press  time. 

Durkalec,  however,  remained  un- 
convinced of  the  claims  of  goodwill 
by  the  ISC  and  Ancillary  Services. 

"Our  experience  of  ISC  'support'  in 
recent  times  has  actually  been  more 
like  direct  and  passive  hostility.  Not 
to  mention  that  most  ISC  staff  have 
never  even  come  to  the  cafe  to  taste 
the  food." 

Radical  Roots  will  meet  with  Ancil- 
lary Services  in  the  coming  weeks.  If 
it  fails  to  win  a  new  contract,  it  will 
carry  on  in  a  changed  capacity,  said 
Durkalec,  perhaps  as  a  community 
or  teaching  kitchen. 


4    MONDAY,  JULY  24, 2006 


VARSITY  COMMENT 


Israel  must  reign  in  illegal  war 


J. p.  Antonacci 

COMMENT  EDITOR 


As  the  situation  in  Lebanon  worsens, 
we  can  now  see  how  closely  Israel's 
military  strategy  resembles  that  of  its 
staunch  ally,  the  United  States.  Israeli 
prime  minister  Ehud  Olmert  is  pulling 
a  George  Bush  by  unilaterally  invad- 
ing another  sovereign  state  in  the 
name  of  fighting  terrorism. 

But  the  current  conflict  in  Lebanon 
is  even  worse,  geopolitically,  than 
Bush's  Iraqi  adventure.  At  least  the 
U.S.  made  no  bones  about  its  desire 
to  topple  the  existing  government 
and  stay  until  a  new  one  was  estab- 
lished. Successful  or  not,  they  are  still 
there  trying,  as  is  the  coalition  force 
in  Afghanistan. 

In  this  case,  Israel  has  essentially 
been  allowed  to  wage  an  undeclared 
war  against  the  state  of  Lebanon.  This 
aggression  has  thrown  the  always 


volatile  region  into  widespread  panic, 
and  must  cease  if  full-scale  conflict  is 
to  be  avoided. 

While  it  is  fine  to  say  that  Lebanon 
remains  divided  from  the  last  civil 
war  and  that  Hezbollah  controls  the 
southern  portion  of  the  country,  the 
land  itself  still  belongs  to  Lebanon. 
The  current  ground  assault,  allegedly 
designed  to  root  out  terrorists,  is  still 
an  illegal  and  unsanctioned  invasion 
of  another  foreign  state  that  should 
draw  harsh  criticism  from  the  U.N. 
General  Assembly,  with  or  without 
American  support. 

The  North  American  diplomatic 
response  to  this  crisis  has  been  un- 
derwhelming thus  far.  While  U.S.  Sec- 
retary of  State  Condoleeza  Rice  has 
indicated  that  the  Israeli  campaign 
has  been  unbalanced  considering  the 
threats,  she  also  chastised  Hezbollah 
for  "outrageous  provocation"  in  the 
group's  bombing  of  the  port  city  of 


Haifa.  Yet  such  forceful  language  was 
unsurprisingly  missing  in  her  gentle 
request  for  Israel  to  stop  killing  civil- 
ians and  bombing  religious  buildings. 

For  the  west  to  support  Israel  now 
just  because  they  are  our  traditional 
allies  displays  a  lack  of  diplomatic 
subtlety,  especially  since  Israel's  dis- 
proportionate actions  so  impudently 
flout  international  law.  Stephen  Harp- 
er's simplistic  analysis  of  the  situation 
("Obviously,  there's  been  an  ongoing 
escalation.  And  frankly,  ongoing  es- 
calation is  inevitable  once  conflict 
begins")  would  make  Mike  Pearson 
cringe.  This  attitude  of  expecting 
an  inevitable  endgame  in  matters  of 
conflict  makes  Harper  a  perfect  ally 
for  Olmert,  who  used  the  regrettable 
kidnapping  of  the  two  Israeli  soldiers 
as  a  thin  pretense  for  this  massive  as- 
sault. 

While  Hezbollah  does  Indeed  pose 
a  threat  to  the  security  and  lasting 


prosperity  of  both  Israel  and  Leba- 
non, the  Israeli  incursions  have  done 
little  to  combat  this  group  directly. 
Instead  of  killing  militants,  Israeli  at- 
tacks are  killing  civilians,  including 
many  children.  Instead  of  bombing 
weapons  caches,  they  have  hit  oil 
reserves  and  harbours,  crippling  the 
country's  infrastructure  as  a  precur- 
sor to  the  all-out  ground  war  which 
is  upon  us.  Does  Hezbollah's  terror- 
ism beget  more  terror  from  the  self- 
styled  beacon  of  democracy  within 
the  region? 

Israel  should  at  last  stand  up  to 
the  terror  in  such  a  way  that  will  not 
propagate  the  cycle  of  destruction. 
It  must  instead  join  an  international 
force  to  help  address  the  root  causes 
of  the  problem  in  the  region.  A  cease- 
fire is  the  first  step  towards  such  a 
solution. 

It  may  be  naive  to  think  that  Hez- 
bollah would  negotiate — as  Rice  cor- 


opinions@thevarsity.ca 


rectly  noted,  extremists  can  only  be 
dealt  with  by  isolation  and  removal 
from  the  process — but  the  current 
violence  proves  that  each  attack  will 
only  be  met  with  greater  violence. 
The  "far-reaching  consequences" 
promised  by  Israel's  Olmert  will  only 
bring  further-reaching  ones  from  He- 
zbollah, and  on  and  on. 

All  war,  justified  or  not,  is  terrible, 
and  we  are  saddened  by  the  hard- 
ships again  suffered  by  the  peoples 
of  Israel  and  Lebanon.  Yet  we  in  the 
West  cannot  afford  to  retreat  into  our 
shells  and  wait  till  Israel  finishes  its 
business.  Our  leaders  must  reason 
and  act  decisively  to  stop  this  im- 
moral destruction  before  the  entire 
region  again  descends  into  chaos. 

Israel's  aggressive  foreign  policy 
must  be  disarmed  along  with  the 
guerillas  of  Hezbollah  and  Hamas  if 
true  peace  in  the  region  is  to  have  a 
chance. 


In  Soviet  Ontario,  vodka  buys  you 

LCBO's  booze  monopoly  must  end,  argues  SEYITBEK  USMANOV 


u: 


■  pon  seeing  an  LCBO 
store,  visitors  to  On- 
tario from  former  So- 
viet states  are  reminded  of 
their  "good  old  Communist 
days"  when  all  shoe  stores, 
electronics  stores,  and  oth- 
er shops  offered  identical 
goods  at  nearly  identical 
prices.  "But  this  is  Canada," 
these  visitors  point  out. 
"Under  what  right  does  the 
government  control  the  sale 
of  liquor?" 

The  Ontario  government 
would  argue  that  for  the 
greater  good  of  society  gov- 
ernment must  control  the 
sale  of  alcohol.  But  is  there 
really  a  difference  whether 
liquor  is  sold  in  publicly  or  privately 
owned  stores?  Private  companies 
abide  by  the  law,  and  those  that 
don't  lose  their  license.  Don't  we 
drink  Pepsi  from  corner  stores  and 
buy  sausages  from  hot  dog  stands? 

Consumers  have  no  choice  but  to 
purchase  anything  the  LCBO  sells 
at  whatever  prices  it  chooses.  The 
LCBO  rakes  in  over  a  billion  dollars 
in  profits  for  the  provincial  budget, 
making  it  an  "amazingly  efficient"  en- 
terprise. This  hypocritical  profit  is 
hardly  earned  with  sweat  and  blood 
on  the  scale  of  corporations  like  Dell 
and  Toyota,  private  companies  that 
have  to  fight  for  profits.  Next  step, 
the  Ontario  government  should  na- 
tionalize gas  stations,  banks  and 
supermarkets  in  its  benign  quest  for 
more  "efficient"  businesses. 

If  the  government  wanted  the 
LCBO  for  tax  revenue  it  could  reap 


Is  this  your  standard  LCBO  beverage,  comrade? 


just  as  much  or  even  more  under  a 
privatized  system.  Since  Alberta  dis- 
mantled and  privatized  their  ALCB 
in  1994,  tax  revenue  from  liquor 
sales  galloped  from  around  $400 
million  to  over  $500  million. 

The  number  of  stores  has  boomed 
in  Alberta  thanks  to  privatization. 
Proportionately,  Alberta  has  three 
times  more  stores  then  Quebec  and 
seven  times  more  then  Ontario. 

It  is  true  that  some  stores  might 
offer  a  narrower  selection  if  priva- 
tized because  in  certain  cases  that 
makes  economic  and  practical  logic. 
Czech  wine  might  not  sell  so  well  at 
a  store  located  in  Chinatown,  say, 
and  private  stores  would  respond 
appropriately  to  these  trends  with 
specialization.  The  store  in  the 
Czech  neighbourhood  would  offer 
more  Czech  liquors  like  absinthe, 
becherovka,  and  trestovice,  and 


stores  would  take  a  similar 
unique  approach  in  the  Chi- 
nese neighbourhood. 

Currently,  the  LCBO  uses 
a  dull  Soviet  approach  that 
sees  all  stores  offer  the 
same  selection,  ■  irrespec- 
tive of  market  conditions 
and  consumer  tastes.  To 
illustrate,  in  2004  the  total 
number  of  different  alco- 
holic products  available 
in  privatized  Alberta  was 
11,575,  compared  to  monop- 
olist Ontario's  3,449. 

The  LCBO  is  proud  that 
their  customer  service  is  un- 
matched because  their  em- 
ployees are  better  trained 
and  more  knowledgeable 
than  those  in  the  private  sector.  Yet 
there  is  no  reason  why  the  private 
firms  would  not  offer  the  same  level 
of  customer  service  if  their  custom- 
ers will  it  and  pay  for  it.  Individu- 
als are  free  to  purchase  business 
class  airline  tickets,  but  most  still 
go  for  the  economy  class.  The  LCBO 
claims  that  just  because  it  provides 
business  class  service  that  must  be 
what  consumers  want,  even  though 
they  have  no  choice  in  the  matter. 

In  light  of  the  hollow  justification 
for  the  LCBO's  existence,  it's  a  won- 
der that  this  Soviet-style  enterprise 
manages  to  survive  in  supposedly 
"progressive"  Canada.  The  LCBO's 
monopolistic  practices  have  taken 
citizens  hostage.  How  long  will  On- 
tarians  take  this?  For  the  good  of 
private  business  everywhere,  the 
LCBO  must  go  the  way  of  the  Berlin 
Wall. 


LETTERS 


Terror  story  jumps 
the  gun 

Re:  Terror  in  Toronto?,  June  19 

The  Varsity's  characterization  of  Saad 
Khalid  as  a  "tragically  misguided 
student"  clearly  presumes  guilt  before 
any  evidence  is  heard. 

Prime  Minister  Stephen  Harper  is  at- 
tempting to  use  these  arrests  as  proof 
that  Canada's  participation  in  the 
imperialist  occupation  of  Afghanistan 
is  necessary  to  safeguard  "freedom" 
at  home,  while  at  the  same  time  his 
government  chips  away  at  democratic 
rights  in  the  name  of  "security."  It  can 
hardly  be  an  accident  that  after  these 
people  were  supposedly  tracked  for 
a  couple  of  years,  they  were  finally 
arrested  just  as  the  Supreme  Court 
began  deliberations  on  the  legality  of 
the  government's  right  to  indefinitely 
detain  people  by  issuing  a  security 
certificate. 

It's  pretty  clear  that  the  Muslim 
youth  swept  up  in  this  recent  bust 
aren't  going  to  get  anything  ap- 
proximating a  fair  trial.  After  a  week  of 
poisoning  the  jury  pool  with  mas- 


sive publicity  for  the  prosecution,  a 
publication  blackout  on  the  court's 
proceedings  was  imposed  before  the 
defense  even  had  a  chance  to  com- 
ment on  the  charges.  Anyone  who 
defends  basic  democratic  rights  must 
oppose  repressive  measures  such 
as  restrictions  on  media  coverage 
of  court  proceedings,  secret  trials, 
security  certificates,  and  rendering 
suspects  for  torture  overseas. 

In  future.  The  Varsity  should  not  be 
so  eager  to  uncritically  endorse  the 
police  and  government  spin. 

TomReid 

Walla  what,  Ignatieff? 

Your  new  trophy  prof  Michael  Ignatieff 
told  the  graduating  class  of  2004 
at  Whitman  College  in  Walla  Walla, 
Washington:  "1  have  taught  in  the  uni- 
versity systems  of  Canada,  the  United 
Kingdom,  and  France,  and  from  my 
experience,  American  higher  educa- 
tion is  the  best  in  the  world."  I  applaud 
freedom  of  speech  but  I  have  no  use 
for  chameleons. 

Linda  Mills 


//ONLINE  EXCLUSIVE  k 

Mayley  Morrison  looks  at  the  case  of  JosepfP 
riKony,  the  leader  of  the  Lord's  Resistance 
Army  in  Uganda,  wanted  by  the  International 
Criminal  Court  for  war  crimes  that  include 
recruiting  child  soldiers.  The  government  of 
Uganda,  however,  has  offered  Kony  pardon  if 

3>  he  comes  to  a  peace  agreement.  Kony  could 
soon  see  himself  return  to  normal  society. 
But  whether  society  is  ready  to  receive  this 
notorious  criminal  back  is  another  matter 
See  "Skirting  the  double-edged  sword"  at 
www.thevarsity.ca 

//QUniABLE 

1  z^-^ii*.,. 

"The  organization  [Hezbollati]  also  has  been  linked  to  almost  ei/e/y  (ype 
of  organized  crime,  including  drug  trafficking  dnig  counterfeiting  and 
selling  stolen  baby  formula."  (AP) 

Taking  formula  from  babies?  These  guys  really  ARE  the  worst! 


kVARSlTY 


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Sarah  Barmak 

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Rogelio  Brisefio 

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Sandy  Huen 

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Comment  Editor 
J.P.  Antonacci 

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Associate  Science  Editors 

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Contributors: 

Adeel  Ahmad,  Jane  Bao,  Andre  Bovee-Begun, 
Frank  Cox-O'Connel,  Stephen  Kershaw, 
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Johanna  Herman 


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Rogelio  Brisefio 


science@thevarsity.ca 


Seeing  for  a  cure 


Harvard  scientists  have  uncovered 
the  mystery  behind  why  the  cornea 
of  the  eye — the  transparent  cover- 
ing of  the  iris — is  free  of  blood  ves- 
sels, the  phenomenon  that  makes 
vision  possible.  It  has  been  found 
that  the  top  layer  of  healthy  corneas 
contains  large  amounts  of  vascular 
endothelial  growth  factor  receptor- 
3,  a  protein  that  stops  the  progress 
of  blood  vessel  growth  by  binding 
the  growth  factors  sent  by  the  body 
to  stimulate  blood  vessels  to  grow. 
These  results  now  open  up  avenues 
of  research  in  preventing  and  curing 
cancers  and  other  diseases  where 
blood  vessels  grow  abnormally  or 
uncontrollably. 
— MAYCEAL-SUKHNI 
Source:  Proceedings  of  the  National 
Academy  of  Sciences 

Olive  oil  on  the  inside 

Crystal  semiconductor  devices  for 
making  computer  chips,  lasers,  and 
digital  camera  sensors  have  been 
ousted — by  olive  oil.  Well,  not  olive 
oil  alone.  Researchers  at  U  of  T's 
department  of  electrical  and  com- 
puter engineering  first  suspended 
nano-sized  semiconductor  particles 
in  a  flask  of  extra-pure  oleic  acid,  the 
main  ingredient  of  olive  oil.  The  liq- 
uid was  then  painted  on  a  glass  slide 
and  the  oleic  acid  pulled  into  a  thin 
film  such  that  semiconductor  par- 
ticles coated  the  slide.  With  noth- 
ing more  than  a  two-hour  methanol 
bath,  the  finished  product  proved  to 
work  ten  times  better  than  expen- 
sive crystal  devices  at  sensing  light. 
The  possibilities  this  presents? 
High-performance  communication 
devices  that  cost  no  more  than  ol- 
ive oil. 

—SANDY  HUEN 

Source:  U  of  T news  service 

Too  hot  to  be  true 

Next  time  you  hear  a  heat  warning 
issued,  be  sure  to  take  heed.  A  new 
study  looking  at  the  implementation 
of  heat  warning  systems  in  four  cit- 
ies, including  Toronto,  found  that 
only  half  of  the  people  who  were 
aware  of  a  heat  warning  actually 
changed  their  behaviour  because  of 
it.  "Heat  tends  to  be  a  stealth  killer," 
according  to  Scott  Sheridan  of  Kent 
State  University,  and  oppressive 
summertime  heat  is  responsible  for 
more  deaths  than  all  other  weather- 
related  disasters  combined. 
—M.S. 

Source:  Kent  State  University 


SCIENCE 


MONDAY, 


JULY  24, 2006  5 


Research  field  caters  to  your  genes 


Sabrina  Adamski 


There  are  those  who  believe  that 
"you  are  what  you  eat"  and  dutifully 
have  five  servings  of  vegetables  per 
day,  and  there  are  those  who  grab  a 
bag  of  chips  and  claim  that  healthy 
eating  doesn't  matter  because  "it's 
all  in  the  genes." 

So  who  has  it  right?  If  you  asked 
a  researcher  in  the  budding  field  of 
nutrigenomics,  which  aims  to  un- 
tangle the  complex  web  of  interac- 
tions between  genes  and  diet,  the 
answer  would  be,  "They  both  do." 

"We  do  know  that  diet  does  af- 
fect our  risk  of  various  diseases," 
said  Professor  Ahmed  El-Sohemy,  a 
member  of  U  of  T's  department  of 
nutritional  sciences  as  well  as  the 
Canada  Research  Chair  in  Nutrig- 
enomics. But  as  for  the  notion  of 
the  universal  ideal  diet,  he  claims 
that  "what  [is  ideal]  for  one  person 
may  not  be  the  same  for  another 
person." 

Nutrigenomics  looks  at  the  genet- 
ic basis  and  physiological  effects  of 
differences  in  the  way  people  pro- 
cess food.  Although  this  may  seem 
straightforward,  the  mechanisms 
involved  are  remarkably  intricate. 

"If  you  look  at  a  complex  food," 
said  El-Sohemy,  "there  are  hun- 
dreds of  chemicals,  if  not  thou- 
sands, and  each  is  being  metabo- 
lized or  acted  on  by  many  different 
genes,  and  each  of  those  genes  can 
exist  in  various  forms." 

This  high  level  of  complexity 
means  that  potential  areas  of  nu- 
trigenomic  research  are  extremely 
diverse.  El-Sohemy's  own  interests, 
for  instance,  include  gene-based 
variability  in  carbohydrate  metabo- 
lism, genetic  determinants  of  caf- 
feine consumption  and  withdrawal, 
and  even  the  genetic  basis  of  prefer- 
ences in  taste.  In  the  field  at  large, 
some  of  the  most  actively  inves- 
tigated gene-diet  interactions  are 
those  related  to  complex  chronic 
diseases  such  as  obesity,  heart  dis- 


The  need  for  more  steak  and  fewer  carrots  may  be  written  in  your  DNA.  The  field  of  nutrigenomics  aims  to  figure  out  individual 
genetic  'nutrition  labels'  as  to  what  will  be  good  for  your  health  and  what  will  not. 


ease,  diabetes,  and  cancer. 

Given  the  marketability  of  every- 
thing diet-related  and  the  cachet  of 
anything  personalized,  it  should 
come  as  no  surprise  that  a  few 
companies — including  U.S.-based 
GeneLink  and  Vancouver-based 
One  Person  Health — already  offer 
gene-based  dietary  recommenda- 
tions to  consumers. 

Typically,  this  personalized  ad- 
vice relies  on  the  analysis  of  a 
handful  of  genes  thought  to  affect 
the  body's  use  of  certain  nutrients. 
For  example,  the  B  vitamin  folate  is 
required  by  a  gene  that  regulates 


levels  of  homocysteine,  a  proposed 
risk  factor  for  heart  disease.  A  less 
active  variant  of  the  gene  requires 
jnore  folate  to  do  its  job,  so  indi- 
viduals who  possess  that  variant 
could  choose  to  adjust  their  dietary 
intake  to  lower  their  risk  of  heart  at- 
tack or  stroke. 

However,  El-Sohemy  warned  that 
since  the  field  is  "still  in  its  infancy," 
companies  providing  recommen- 
dations could  be  "delivering  that 
information  prematurely  when  we 
haven't  quite  figured  out  what  is  go- 
ing on."  Many  of  the  health  claims 
made  by  these  companies  have  not 


yet  been  examined  by  regulatory 
agencies  such  as  Health  Canada  or 
the  Food  and  Drug  Administration 
in  the  United  States. 

Still,  El-Sohemy  believes  that  nu- 
trigenomics holds  great  promise 
and  what  it  is  capable  of  offering 
will  become  clearer  with  time. 

"As  the  science  unfolds  and  we 
begin  to  demonstrate  more  ex- 
amples of  the  kinds  of  differences 
that  we  find,"  said  El-Sohemy,  "I 
think  people  will  begin  to  see  that  it 
could  really  play  an  important  role 
in  affecting  the  decisions  that  they 
make." 


Taking  stem  cells  to  town 


Sandy  Huen 

SCIENCE  EDITOR 


Stem  cell  research  in  the  last  decade 
has  given  rise  to  novel  technologies 
like  skin  culture  grafts  and  bone  mar- 
row transplants,  but  the  number  of 
ethical  issues — not  to  mention  stem 
cell  myths — arise  still  faster.  Weeks 
before  Bush's  recent  veto  of  the  stem 
cell  bill  in  the  U.S.,  these  long-stand- 
ing issues  inspired  a  public  sympo- 
sium hosted  by  the  International  So- 
ciety for  Stem  Cell  Research  on  June 
28  at  the  MaRS  centre  for  scientists 
and  the  general  public  alike. 

The  key  stem  cell  issue  for  many 
dissenters  lies  in  the  moral  status 
of  the  embryo.  Janet  Rossant,  Chief 
of  Research  at  the  Hospital  for  Sick 
Children  began  the  symposium  clar- 
ifying the  facts  behind  this  ethical 
problem. 

"The  source  of  embryos  to  make 
embryonic  stem  cells  are  not  embry- 
os that  are  created  specifically  for 
this  purpose,"  said  Rossant.  "They 
are  embryos  that  come  from  in  vitro 
fertilization  programs. ..that  would 
otherwise  be  discarded  because 
they're  no  longer  needed  for  repro- 
ductive purposes." 

Tim  Caulfield,  Research  Director 
at  the  University  of  Alberta's  Health 
Law  Institute,  spoke  of  Canada's 


The  neural  stem  cell  of  a  mouse,  stained  and  captured  under  a  confocal  microscope, 
is  an  area  of  controversy  in  the  stem  cell  debate  for  the  possibility  that  the  cells  may 
give  rise  to  a  whole,  working  brain. 


many  laws  against  procedures  like 
therapeutic  cloning,  regulations  that 
he  finds  are  the  most  restrictive  of 
all  pluralistic  and  democratic  soci- 
eties. These  laws,  for  example,  pro- 
hibit the  use  of  certain  kinds  of  stem 
cells  in  creating  chimeras — living 
creatures  that  have  cells  from  two 


animals,  say  human  and  mouse. 

"I  think  one  of  the  myths  out  there 
is  that  there  are  a  ton  of  people  do- 
ing embryonic  stem  cell  research 
all  over  the  world,"  said  Caulfield. 
"[There  are  only]  3  or  4  teams  in  the 
world  seriously  engaged  in  therapy." 

"We  are  honestly  a  long  way  from 


applying  research  from  embryonic 
stem  cells,"  added  panellist  Peter 
Andrews,  a  professor  at  The  Univer- 
sity of  Sheffield's  biomedical  science 
department  in  the  U.K. 

The  committee  agreed  on  the 
need  for  multidisciplinary  teams, 
from  biologists  to  tissue  engineers 
and  clinicians,  to  bring  stem  cell 
research  into  medical  practice.  The 
only  way  these  teams  can  come  to- 
gether is  through  the  financial  and 
political  support  of  governments 
and  the  public. 

"Now  what  we  need  to  do  is  engage 
the  public  in  a  meaningful  way — and 
1  mean  everyone"  said  Caulfield.  "We 
should  look  at  this  as  an  opportunity 
in  our  society  to  deal  with  a  science 
controversy  because  as  science  be- 
comes a  bigger  part  of  society,  we're 
going  to  have  more  of  these  contro- 
versies." 


//ONLINE  EXCLUSIVE 


On  a  search  for  the  latest  and 
most  controversial  stem  ceil 
research  at  U  of  T,  MANDY  LO 
breaks  out  her  sneakers  and  takes 
a  stroll.  Find  out  what  makes  stem 
cells  click  at  www.thevarsity.ca 


6    MONDAY,  JULY  24, 2006 


VARSITY  A&E 


review@thevarsity.ca 


Fringe  benefits 

What  rocked  and  what  sucked  at  this  years  indie-theatre  test 

Jordan  Bimm,  Frank  Cox-O'Connell,  Jennifer  Fabro,  Chander  Levack,  Yastnin  Siddiqui 


July  5  -  16.  2006 

This  ticket  is  good  o"* 
admission  .ttev8.id  only  aUhe 

venue  ued  and  for  the 


to"*  Th#atre  Festtval 
JuJyS  -  16.  2006 
unexpected.  iKrft»rgettabte, 

Tills  Mcl<et  is  good  for  ono 
admission.  It  is  vafid  only  at  the 

venup  where  issued  and  for  the 


Toronto's  Theatre  FestivaS 
Julys  -  18,  2006 
unfmed.  wtexpectod.  unforgettxsl)ie. 

This  ticitet  is  good  for  ona 
admission,  it  is  valid  only  at  the 

vcsnue  where  issued  and  for  tha 

Derformancs  soie'':!'' 


Sexual  Perversity  in  Chicago 

@  Royal  St.  George's  Theatre 

A  sign  on  the  wall  of  Royal  St. 
George's  auditorium  reads  "Manners 
Maketh  Men."  Enter  Bernie  Litko  and 
Danny  Shapiro.  These  two  self-ag- 
grandizing twentysomethings  spout 
lines  like  "My  fucking  heart  is  pump- 
ing pisswater  for  you"  and  "Some  fag- 
got queer's  got  the  hots  for  my  joint 
at  the  cartoons"  as  they  live  it  up  at 
the  smutty  height  of  the  swinging 
'70s.  Manners  indeed.  But  making 
humourous  heroes  of  these  repre- 
hensible men  is  where  the  genius  of 
American  playwright  David  Mamet 
(American  Buffalo,  Glengarry  Glen 
Ross)  truly  lies.  This  production, 
in  direct  opposition  to  the  slogans 
adorning  its  venue's  walls,  shows  just 
how  effective  the  Fringe  is  at  bending 
the  rules  and  challenging  common 
decency.  While  Bernie  constantly 
weaves  fictitious  monologues  about 
his  past  conquests,  Danny  actually 
succeeds  in  settling  down  with  an 
unlikely  love,  Deborah.  In  the  role  of 
Bernie,  Randall  Connoly  started  off  a 
little  shaky,  sometimes  losing  his  ver- 
bal footing  during  the  infamous  "flak 
suit"  monologue,  but  grew  increas- 
ingly more  natural  and  confident  as 
the  play  progressed.  This  worked  in 
part  thanks  to  his  picture-perfect 
appearance  (a  combination  of  a  mus- 
tachioed Jason  Lee,  a  young  Nicolas 
Cage,  and  Dave  Grohl  playing  the  air- 
line pilot  in  the  Foo  Fighters'  "Learn 
to  Fly"  video).  In  the  role  of  the  less 
self-assured  Danny,  Len  Silvini  was 
more  than  competent,  although 
when  he  flew  into  a  vengeful  rage  he 
sounded  an  awful  lot  like  Al  Pacino 
playing  Richard  Roma  in  Mamet's 
other  masterpiece  Glengarry  Glen 
Ross.  While  the  choice  to  use  cheesy 
70's  hits  as  bumper  music  between 
some  scenes  was  a  no-brainer,  it 
should  have  been  done  between  all 
scenes,  as  the  ones  lacking  a  musi- 
cal transition  were  markedly  more 
awkward.  All  in  all  this  was  a  hilari- 
ous production  of  one  of  the  funniest 
plays  ever  written.  Whether  or  not 
revivals  of  such  classics  belong  in  a 
"fringe"  festival  is  another  question 
altogether.  -JB 

Rating:  VWW 

It  Was  Kit:  The  "True"  Story  of 
Christopher  Marlowe 

@  Tarragon  Theatre  Mainspace 

While  one  must  give  kudos  to  play- 
wright Allison  McWood  for  having 
not  one,  but  two  entries  in  this  years 
Fringe  (musical  Welcome  to  Eden, 
Population:  2  being  the  other),  the  rel- 
ative weakness  of  her  fictional  take 
on  Christopher  Marlowe's  last  year 
on  earth  leads  one  to  think  she'd  be 
better  off  sticking  to  song  and  dance. 
While  McWood's  cheeky  historical 


references  are  amusing  and  her  char- 
acters witty,  the  script's  modern  dia- 
logue sounds  out  of  place  amidst  the 
Elizabethan  costumes  and  setting, 
and  suffers  from  trying  far  too  hard 
to  be  clever.  The  production  is  saved 
by  a  few  solid  performances,  particu- 
larly Chris  Coculuzzi's  multi-faceted 
portrayal  of  the  title  character.  Jeff 
White  makes  a  hilariously  spacey 
Thomas  Kyd,  and  Kevin  Risk's  neb- 
bish  Will  Shakespeare  is  a  nice  con- 
trast to  Coculuzzi's  devil-may-care 
rebel  of  a  Marlowe.  When  these  three 
are  together  on  stage,  the  energy 
picks  up  considerably;  misguided  at- 
tempts at  humour  led  by  extraneous 
characters  such  as  two  wandering 
atheists  could  easily  be  cut.  In  the 
end,  the  show  is  mildly  interesting, 
but  not  enough  to  be  anything  more 
than  mediocre — and  would  Marlowe 
not  have  considered  mediocrity  a  big- 
ger insult  than  flaming  failure?  -YS 

Rating:  VWW 

Real  Time 

@  Theatre  Passe-Muraille  Mainspace 

Boy  meets  girl.  They  date,  get  to 
know  each  other,  and  maybe,  just 
maybe,  fall  in  love.  Sounds  cliched? 
Perhaps,  except  that  in  Matt  Alden's 
uber-charming  Real  Time,  the  boy, 
Billy  (Dan  Jeannotte)  is  a  computer 
nerd,  the  girl,  Jessie  (Caitlin  How- 
den),  is  a  beer-swilling  rebel  under 
house  arrest,  and  they  meet  online 
during  a  particularly  intense  game 
of  D&D.  Alden's  script  is  a  romantic 
comedy  for  the  21st  century,  and 
Jeannotte  and  Howden  handle  it  deft- 
ly, playing  not  only  the  opposites-at- 
tract  central  duo  of  the  tale,  but  a 
dozen  other  characters  while  they're 
at  it.  Director  Murray  Utas  keeps  the 
staging  simple  and  uncluttered  while 
moving  the  story  along  at  a  brisk  clip, 
handling  transitions  from  the  online 
world  to  the  "real"  world  without 
missing  a  beat.  The  key  ingredient  in 
a  successful  love  story  is  making  the 
audience  actually  want  the  lead  pair 
to  end  up  together,  and  this  is  where 
Real  Time  succeeds  in  droves.  With 
clever,  likeable  characters,  sympa- 
thetically portrayed  by  two  extreme- 
ly talented  young  actors  and  quirky, 
yet  heartfelt  dialogue,  one  can't  help 
but  cheer  as  the  play's  awkward  cou- 
ple finally  finds  love  beyond  heart- 
shaped  emoticons.  -YS 

Rating:  VWW 

Minotaur 

@  Robert  Gill  Theatre 

A  mystery-horror  play  set  in  Toronto, 
Minotaur  had  me  rapt  up  until  the 
very  end.  At  which  point  the  real  hor- 
ror was  the  tacked-on  ending  which 
avoided  a  plethora  of  more  interest- 
ing, scary,  and  meaningful  solutions. 


Set  in  a  university  classroom  an  ec- 
centric, self-centered  professor  (is 
that  redundant?)  introduces  the  au- 
dience, his  new  "class",  to  both  the 
mystery  of  the  Underwood  Property, 
a  century-old  house  with  an  enig- 
matic shaft  plummeting  down  from 
the  basement,  and  his  bizarre  aca- 
demic method  of  uncovering  what 
happened  to  a  disappeared  couple 
who  briefly  owned  the  home.  Using 
incomplete  bits  of  multimedia  and 
artifacts  (a  bit  of  video,  some  audio 
tape,  rants  scribbled  down  on  to  pa- 
per towel  rolls)  recovered  from  the 
bottom  of  the  shaft,  the  professor  has 
his  two  TAs,  Kieran  (Chris  Hanratty) 
and  Nora  (Trish  Lahde)  assume  the 
identities  of  the  perished  couple  and, 
using  a  Stanislavski-like  method,  at- 
tempt to  re-enact  the  horrific  events 
in  the  darkened  classroom.  Borrow- 
ing heavily  from  nu-horror  flicks  like 
The  Ring  and  The  Blair  Witch  Proj- 
ect, Minotaur  comes  complete  with 
spooky  noises,  hag-like  creatures, 
and  lots  of  blackouts  accompanied 
by  heavy,  fearful  breathing.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  horror,  there  are  lots  of 
funny  moments  in  Minotaur  many  of 
which  involve  classroom  humour. 
Despite  the  flawed,  summary  conclu- 
sion, this  show  had  many  redeeming 
and  promising  aspects.  -JB 

Rating:  VWW 

Three  Billy  Goats  Gruff 

@  Palmerston  Library  Theatre 

What  do  you  get  when  you  take  To- 
ronto's most  innovative  comedians, 
original  music  by  Sebastien  Grainger 
(of  local  noise-rock  duo  DFA  1979), 
and  a  classic  children's  story?  One  of 
the  best  shows  at  this  year's  Fringe 
festival,  that's  what.  This  fantastic, 
sarcastic,  and  ironic  take  on  the  story 
of  Three  Billy  Goats  Gruff  was  created 
by  and  stars  Katie  Crown  (Brenda), 
Terrance  Balazo  (Smithson  &  Twiz- 
zly),  Maggie  Maloney  (Peanut),  and 
Aaron  Knight  (Troll),  and  was  direct- 
ed by  the  inimitable  Kathleen  Phil- 
lips. The  story's  skeleton  is  the  same 
as  you  might  remember  from  child- 
hood— save  that  this  story's  villain 
is  a  pinstripe-wearing,  greasy-haired 
Business  Troll,  who  dupes  the  young- 
est Goat  Gruff  into  signing  a  slavery 
contract  when  she  asks  to  visit  his 
lush  and  lovely  "West  side."  With  the 
audience's  help,  her  elder  siblings 
have  to  hatch  an  elaborate  rescue 
scheme  that  involves  disguises,  se- 
cret admirers,  and  even  a  brush  with 
cannibalism.  Throughout  the  year. 
The  Cow  Over  Moon  Children's  The- 
atre Company  puts  on  this,  and  simi- 
lar productions  in  Mississauga,  and  if 
this  play  is  any  indication,  it's  worth 
the  trek  to  the  West  side  to  see  what 
they'll  come  up  with  next.  -JF 

Rating:  VWW 


The  Lab 

@  Royal  St.  George's  Parking  Lot 

Yes,  it's  another  one-man  show,  but 
don't  fear.  The  Lab  was  refreshingly 
more  than  just  another  Toronto 
theatre  actor  alone  on  stage  talk- 
ing about  himself.  Staged  in  a  long, 
dark  semi-trailer,  the  spooky  envi- 
ronment is  perfectly  suited  to  the 
story:  a  young  man  (Michael  Payne) 
answers  a  want  ad  and  lands  a  job  in 
a  mobile  cloning  facility.  The  open- 
ing 20  minutes  are  captivating  as 
the  eccentricities  of  his  coworkers 
and  the  rules  of  the  enigmatic  job 
are  revealed  with  brilliant,  somber 
story  telling.  Director  Ruth  Madoc- 
Jones  uses  simple  conventions  that 
are  clever  but  never  too  indulgent; 
for  example,  the  only  lights  used  to 
distinguish  the  six  characters  are  at- 
tached to  small  props  (designed  by 
J. P.  Robichaud).  However,  once  our 
hero  settles  into  his  post,  Payne's 
story  can't  keep  up  with  his  perfor- 
mance. Ultimately,  science  proves  to 
be  the  only  language  that  can  answer 
the  questions  so  brilliantly  posed  at 
the  top  of  the  play.  And  sadly,  sci- 
ence is  a  rather  boring  language  to 
listen  to  in  a  dark  trailer.  -FCO 

Rating:  VWW 

Giant  Killer  Shark 

@  Helena  Gardiner  Theatre 

It's  official:  Fringe  audiences  love  iro- 
ny. And  Giant  Killer  Shark  is  just  what 
the  doctor  ordered,  serving  up  large 
portions  of  cheesy  choreography 
(jazz  hands  abound!),  absurd  props 
(Nerf  guns  and  beanie  babies),  and 
a  flurry  of  references  to  Spielberg's 
1975  hit  about  a  certain  fish  with  a 
taste  for  young  swimmers.  Here's  the 
funny  thing  though:  it  all  works.  Sam 
Sutherland's  emo/electronic  score 
is  a  beautiful  accompaniment  to  the 
great  direction  of  Amy  Duncan.  The 
actors  are  spot  on,  and  they're  good 
singers  to  boot.  The  camaraderie 
between  a  scientist,  a  hardened  New 
York  City  Cop  and  one  very  drunk 
fisherman  is  apparent,  and  the  oddly 
expository  lyrics  ("I'm  dead/I'm  re- 
ally, really  dead")  only  resulted  in 
whistles  and  standing  ovations  from 
the  audience.  Giant  Kilter  Shark  has 
all  the  right  ingredients  to  be  a  cross- 
over hit  for  irony  lovers  everywhere. 
Now  all  Sutherland  needs  is  the  right 
actor  to  play  E.T.  and  he'll  be  set  for 
Fringe  2007.  -CL 

Rating:  VWvV 

The  Catering  Queen 

@  Tarragon  Mainstage 

For  playwright  and  actress  Alison 
Lawrence,  it  looks  like  the  14th  time's 
the  charm.  Her  first-ever  Fringe  ac- 
ceptance (the  festival  is  organized 


on  a  supposedly  "random"  lottery 
system),  Lawrence's  Fringe  debut  is  a 
"you  go  girl!"  saga  of  a  woman  in  her 
mid  30s  stuck  in  the  ultimate  dead- 
end job,  catering.  As  the  daughter  of 
a  caterer  myself,  1  loved  Lawrence's 
witty  observations  on  the  art  of  serv- 
ing food  to  rich  people  and  what  re- 
ally happens  behind  closed  kitchen 
doors.  Well-developed  characters, 
tons  of  zingers  and  great  chemistry 
between  leads  save  The  Catering 
Queen  from  being  Mary  Tyler  Moore 
with  a  side  of  tuna  tartare.  -CL 

Rating:  VWvV 

You  Talking  To  Me? 

@  St.  Vladimir's  Theatre 

Alright,  so  this  play  involves  a  char- 
acter who  has  a  psychological  dis- 
order where  he  can  only  speak  lines 
from  famous  movies,  but  the  story's 
not  about  him  per  se.  It  actually 
centres  around  his  pregnant,  guard- 
ian sister  and  her  seriously  flawed 
relationship  with  her  loading-dock, 
blue-collar  playboy  fiancee.  Does 
this  sound  like  a  winner  or  what? 
Basically  what  happens  is  that  the 
crazy  movie  guy  actually  gets  set 
up  on  a  blind  date  thanks  to  his  sis- 
ter, but  as  it  turns  out,  his  "date"  is 
loading-dock-dude's  ex-doxy  who  he 
was  banging  on  the  side  a  few  years 
back.  The  four  go  out  for  Chinese 
food,  and  while  preggo  is  in  the  can, 
the  homewrecker  makes  her  move 
to  lure  loading-dock  away  to  booze  it 
up  in  Vegas.  Even  though  our  filmy 
"Rainman"  overhears  the  whole 
thing,  he  struggles  with  his  verbal 
impasse  (which  is  never  explained!) 
to  warn  his  sister  about  the  impend- 
ing exodus.  In  hindsight,  1  should 
have  brought  a  pack  of  crackers  to 
this  show,  because  the  whole  thing 
was  one  giant  ball  of  cheese.  From 
the  painfully  predictable  and  sappy 
movie  quotes,  "life  is  like  a  box  of 
chocolates"  (oh,  God...),  "don't  cry 
for  me  Argentina"  (kill  me,  please), 
"you  had  me  at  hello"  (fuck,  fuck, 
fuck,  get  me  the  fuck  outta  here!) 
to  the  ultra-super-overly  expository 
monologues,  to  a  stage  "fight"  that 
looked  like  it  was  choreographed  by 
a  blind  pacifist,  this  show  sucked. 
There's  no  two  ways  about  it.  -JB 

Rating:  VWW 


//ONLINE  EXCLUSIVES 


•  More  Fringe  Reviews 

•  An  interview  with  Strangers  with 
Candy's  Amy  Sedarls 

•  Tons  of  hot  summer  movie  reviews 

•  Notes  from  Toronto's  underground 
music  scene,  visit 
www.thevarsity.ca 


sports@thevarsity.ca 

Blues  volley  two  to 
championship 

U  of  T  will  send  two  to  represent 
Canada  in  the  North,  Central  Ameri- 
can, and  Caribbean  Volleyball  Con- 
federation Championship  August  6- 
14.  Coming  off  an  all-star  campaign 
in  his  rookie  year,  student  Steven 
Kung  earned  a  spot  on  the  Cana- 
dian Junior  Men's  National  Team 
to  compete  at  the  championship  in 
Monterrey,  Mexico. 

He  will  be  joined  by  his  head 
coach  Jeff  Chung,  who  was  ap- 
pointed the  role  of  assistant  coach 
for  the  Junior  Men's  National  Team 
last  month.  The  Canadian  squad, 
in  a  pool  with  Cuba,  Puerto  Rico, 
and  the  Dominican  Republic,  will 
attempt  to  qualify  for  the  2007  Ju- 
nior Men's  World  Championships 
by  finishing  among  the  top  two  at 
the  event. 

—  CHRISTOPHE  POIRIER 


VARSITY  SPORTS 


MONDAY,  JULY  24, 2006  7 


Bronze  polish  reveals  star 

Five  U  of  T  athletes  represented 
Canada  at  the  North  American, 
Central  American,  and  Caribbean 
under-23  Track  and  Field  Champi- 
onships on  July  11. 

Joe  Campanelli  took  home  the 
bronze  in  the  10,000-metre  event 
with  a  time  of  31:04.62,  and  was 
the  sole  U  of  T  student  who  re- 
cieved  a  medal  in  Santo  Domingo, 
Dominican  Republic.  While  Canada 
finished  with  15  medals,  three  sil- 
vers, and  12  bronze,  Campanelli's 
perfromance  cemented  him  as  one 
of  the  top  long  distance  runners  in 
the  country. 

Other  U  of  T  athletes  were  Me- 
gan Brown,  who  finished  fourth  in 
the  1500-metre  at  4:24.41,  Jason 
Wurster,  who  placed  fourth  in  the 
pole  vault  at  5.05  metres,  and  U  of 
T's  male  athlete  of  the  year  Mark 
Stewart,  who  finished  fifth  in  the 
110-metre  at  14.43.  Mark  Dillon  also 
competed  in  the  high  jump. 
—  CP 


LSAT  MCAT 
GMAT  GRE 

Preparation  Seminars 


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•  Thousands  of  Satisfied  Students 


Sports'  five  most  infamous  acts: 
does  Zidane's  head-butt  make  it? 


Christophe  Poirier 

Sports  Editor 


While  the  world  of  athletics  can  leave 
spectators  with  beautiful  moments, 
its  underbelly  of  poor  sportsman- 
ship leaves  the  memory  of  viewers 
with  indelible  stains. 
Look  no  further  than  the  image  that 
tarnished  this  year's  world  cup. 
French  captain  Zinedine  Zidane  re- 
ceived a  three-game  suspension  and 
was  fined  $6,000  by  FIFA  as  punish- 
ment for  his  head-butt  to  Italy's  Mar- 
co Materazzi.  While  the  act  perhaps 
overshadows  a  tremendous  tourna- 
ment, it  fails  to  crack  the  top  five  of 
the  most  despicable  moments  in 
sports  history. 

5:  Disco  Demolition  Niglit 

What  might  be  the  most  ill-thought- 
out  promotional  scheme  ever  was 
the  "brain-child"  of  Mike  Veeck,  son 
of  then-Chicago  White  Sox  owner  Bill 
Veeck.  To  curb  plummeting  atten- 
dance rates,  Mike  used  his  hatred  for 
disco  as  a  means  to  get  people  in  the 
seats.  If  fans  showed  up  to  the  July 
12,  1979  double  header  against  the 
Detroit  Tigers  with  98  cents  and  a  dis- 
co record  ready  to  burn,  they  would 
be  treated  to  the  bonus  of  watching 
their  donation  be  detonated.  Fifty 
thousand  spectators  showed  up, 
and  the  frenzied  mob  went  nuts  after 
their  disco  pcu-aphernalia  was  sent 
to  kingdom  come.  The  bomb's  explo- 
sion ripped  a  ten  foot  chunk  out  of 
centre  field  and  catalyzed  the  crowd 
to  swarm  the  grass  and  start  several 
fires.  By  the  time  policemen  in  riot 
gear  controlled  the  mob  Chicago  was 
forced  to  concede  the  game.  It  re- 
mains the  last  forfeiture  in  American 
League  history. 

4:  "Rocket"  Richard's 
tomahawk 

When  "Rocket"  Richard  deliberately 
injured  Hal  Laycoe  by  tomahawking 
him  over  the  head  with  his  stick  on 
March  13,  1955,  he  was  sent  off  for 
the  remainder  of  the  match.  When 
he  then  punched  out  linesman  Cliff 
Thompson,  then-NHL  president  Clar- 
ence Campbell  banned  Richard  for 
the  remainder  of  the  season.  The  loss 
of  their  most  talented  player  caused 
an  insidious  uproar  amongst  Habs 
fans.  When  Campbell  attended  a  Ca- 
nadiens  game  in  Montreal  later  that 
year,  he  was  pelted  with  eggs  and 
the  arena  was  evacuated  as  an  out- 
of-control  crowd  took  to  the  streets. 
The  ensuing  riot  caused  $500,000  in 
damage. 

3:  Tyson  Bites  Holyfield's  ear 

Mike's  ferociously  feral  ways  were 
brought  to  a  pay-per-view  audience 
June  28,  1997.  In  the  third  round  of 
his  second  bout  against  Evander 
Holyfield,  the  ex-convict  Tyson  bit 
a  piece  of  his  opponent's  ear  off 
— twice —  before  being  disqualified. 
He  was  fined  $3  million  and  banned 
from  boxing  for  one  year. 

2:  The  Artest  IVIelee 

After  giving  a  hard  foul  to  Detroit 
centre  Ben  Wallace  in  the  waning 
moments  of  a  97-82  Pacer  victory, 
Ron  Artest  lay  down  on  the  scorer's 
table  in  mock  placidity  while  players 
brawled  at  centre  court.  But  when  a 
fan  in  the  stands  hit  Indiana's  forward 
with  a  cup  of  beer,  Artest  snapped. 
He  charged  into  the  seats  —  and 
without  knowing  who  threw  the  cup 


—  started  punching  random  specta- 
tors. Quickly  joining  the  fracas  were 
teammates  Stephen  Jackson,  David 
Harrison,  and  Jermaine  O'Neal.  All 
four  were  suspended,  with  Artest  re- 
ceiving the  brunt  of  the  punishment 
at  86  games  without  pay. 

l:The  Soccer  War 

While  hooligans  and  riots  are  a  not- 
vuncommon  aspect  of  futebol,  the 
real-life  ramifications  of  a  game  were 
never  more  pronounced  than  be- 
tween El  Salvador  and  Honduras  in 
the  late  sixties.  Political  and  social 
upheavals  between  the  two  nations 
made  tensions  high,  and  during  the 
1969  North  American  qualifying  tour- 
nament for  the  1970  World  Cup,  the 
animosity  boiled  over. 

Honduras  won  the  first  leg  of  a 
best  of  three  affair  with  a  1-0  win.  A 
relatively  friendly  match,  it  quickly 
turned  ugly  when  Honduras  traveled 
to  San  Salvador  for  the  second  game 
of  the  tournament.  Two  nights  before 
the  contest,  the  Honduras  team  had 
their  hotel  burned  down,  and  were 
lucky  enough  to  have  no  casualties. 
The  next  night  in  a  new  hotel,  the 
rowdy  Salvadorans  again  harassed 
the  visiting  team,  keeping  them  from 
their  sleep  by  singing  their  "apolo- 
gies" until  daybreak. 

The  exhausted  Honduran  squad 
was  pinned  for  a  3-0  loss,  and  barely 
escaped  back  home  as  Salvadorans 
rioted  after  the  match.  The  bitter- 
ness boiled  over  after  El  Salvador 
won  the  third  and  final  match  3-2  in 
extra  time,  causing  Honduras  to  im- 
mediately cut  diplomatic  relations 
with  their  neighbour.  Two  weeks 
later  on  July  14,  El  Salvador  attacked 
Honduras.  The  war  lasted  five  days, 
but  at  the  cost  of  2,000  lives,  the 
majority  of  which  were  Honduran.  It 
remains  a  vein  of  bad  blood  between 
the  nations. 


Zinedine  Zidane's  head-butt  on  Marco  Materazzi  (top),  while  impolite,  is  by  no  means 
the  worst  act  in  sports  history.  Mike  Tyson  biting  off  Evander  Holyfield's  ear?  That's 
more  like  it. 


Oxford  Seminars 

www.oxfordseniinars.com 


8   MONDAY,  JULY  24, 2006 


VARSITY  COMICS 


sports@thevarsity.ca 


DOWNTOWN  TORONTO  By  Jason  Kieffer 


DOWNTOWN  TORONTO  By  Jason  Kieffer 


AHHH  HA-HA! 


VE*\H...  BOTX  OON'T  SIT  AWOLIN  O 
ALt  D^X   FANTASIZING-  A0OUT 
PRINCESS   L£iS  CHAINeo  UP  IN  A.  G-OCO  | 
BIKINI.    LIKE.  WK^T   ARE     VOL)  -- 
THIRTEEN  oft  SOMeTHlMO?... 


Ar*o  Besioes,  C  M  not  eve 
TALKING  a6out  that  part 

TACK'NCr  ABOUT  TH£   PART  AFTER 
THAT.   V'KMOw ...  AFTCR  sue  /r— 
Klt-l-'b    TA&&A  TH£   HOT...  XIZ 


r.  x'n  Vj- 
AFTER  X 


YEAH...  ano  THfN  sue  estAPf  s  and 
Jumps  omto  that  fuckih'  LAseR- 

CANNON  turret  aKO  STARTS  4HOOT1N& 

&t»YS_vjiTH  it!   fuck  man  SHE 
eveM  HesiTATe  or 

ANVTH(N&!   ^Hf  TUST 
STARTS  OFPiNi;^  &OYS 
ONC  A>rT£R  ANOTrteB) 
MAN,  CM  Tet,t-'N& 
A  -  -  IT'S  TOTAU-t 


Don't  lose  your  head 

write  for  sports 
sports@thevarsity.ca 


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,   Student  rate:  $10.00  for  non-business  ads.  $0.25  for  each  word  after  25. 
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theYARSlTY 


1 

i 

TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  5, 2006 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  TORONTO'S  STUDENT  NEWSPAPER  SINCE  1880 


www.thevarsity.ca 

VOL.  CXXVII,  K0.4| 


2   TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  5, 2006 

mmmmmmmmmimmmmttmmmmmmmmmmmmm 


VARSITY  NEWS 


news@thevarsity.ca 


OPIRG  -  Toronto  will  be  offering  levy 
refunds  to  Graduate,  Full-Time  and  Part- 
time  Undergraduate  UofT  students  at 
St.  George  Campus  on  the  following  days: 


September  5  -  28,  2006 
11am  -  6pm 
Monday  to  Thursday  ONLY 
101-563  Spadina  Avenue 
416.978,7770  for  further  information. 

YOU  MUST  BRING  PICTURE  ID  AND  PROOF  OF  FEES  PAID. 


JOB  POSTING  -  GROUNDS-KEEPER  /  GARDENER 


Part-Time  Student  Position  ot  the  NEWMAN  CENTRE, 
89  St.  George  Street,  Toronto 

Purpose  of  Position: 

To  maintoin  cleon,  safe,  and  attractive  grounds  and  gardens  atttie  Newmon  Centre  with  on  emphasis  on  the 
spring,  sunimer  and  fall  seosons.  To  ensure  safe  access  to  the  house  and  church  through  removol  of  snow 
and  ice  in  the  winter  months. 

Reports  to:  Business  Manager,  Newman  Centre 

Job  Duties: 

Upkeep  grounds  surrounding  house  and  church;  includes  cutting  and  maintaining  lawn,  raking  leoves,  cutting 
hedges,  pruning  bushes,  weeding  and  edging,  contracting  for  trimming  or  removal  of  tree  branches  or  trees. 
Water  grass  and  gardens  to  keep  plonts  and  flowers  healthy  and  attractive  on  a  daily  basis.  Pickup  garboge 
on  the  property  and  in  flower  beds.  Sweep  driveways,  walkways  &  porch.  Chonge  light  bulbs  outside  of 
buildings. 

Prepore  gardens  for  preflonting  in  spring;  includes  removal  ond  turning  over  soil,  odding  fertilizer,  etc 
Purchase  flowers  to  plant  in  spring.  Close  down  garden  for  fall,  including,  trimming  of  plants,  clean  up  of 
flower  beds,  etc. 

Opfmat  Extra  hours  available  in  winter  to  shovel  snow  and  remove  ice  hom  driveway,  walkways,  steps  to 
ensure  safe  occess  to  house  and  church. 

Normal  Working  Hours:  20  hours  per  week  (April  -  October) 

1 0  hours  per  week  (November  -  March)  +  snow  removal  (optionol) 

Job  Requirements/Skills: 

Experience  in  grounds-keeping  and  gardening  a  must.  Ability  to  work  independently  to  handle  job 
responsibilities  with  minimal  supervision.  Good  planning  and  hme  management  skills.  Ability  to  work  well 
with  others.  Willingness  to  take  personal  responsibility  for  job  assignments  and  take  initiative  to  correct 
problem  areas. 

If  Interested:  Please  fax  resume  to  (416)  596-6920  or  email  to 
coordinator@newmantoronto.(om.  Starting  date:  ASAP 


Teaching  Assistants'  Training  Program 
(TATP) 
Fall  Seminar  Series 

Online  Registration  Opens  September  5th! 
Sessions  start  on  September  15th,  2006 

Titles  include: 

•  First  Time  TA  (Humanities) 

•  First  Time  TA  (Social  Sciences) 

•  First  Time  TA  (Physical  and  Life  Sciences) 

•  First  Time  TA  (Engineering) 

•  Preparing  the  Teaching  Dossier 

•  Evaluating  Class  Porticipation  in  the  Humanities,  Arts  &  Social  Sciences 

•  Responding  to  Student  Papers  (Without  Killing  Yourself) 

•  Engaging  Students  in  Large  Classes 

•  Are  We  Having  Fun  Yet?:  Teaching  to  Different  Learning  Styles 

•  TA  Dilemmas  and  the  Ethics  of  Teaching 

•  Surviving  and  Enjoying  Lab  Teaching 

•  Teaching  First-Year  Students 

•  Microteaching  Sessions 

More  sessions  will  be  added  throughout  the  fall  term.  Check  website  for 
updates! 

All  sessions  ore  open  to  University  of  Toronto  graduate  students. 
All  sessions  are  free. 

For  full  seminar  descriptions  and  to  register  after  September  5th,  please 
visit  our  website:  www.utoronto.ca/tatp 


Ex-U  of  T  profs  under  fire 
for  'espionage' 

Ramin  Jahanbegloo,  a  former  U  of 
T  professor,  was  releaseci  on  bail 
on  Wednesday.  Aug.  30,  after  being 
held  for  four  monttis  by  Iran.  His  re- 
lease came  after  months  of  interna- 
tional pressure  from  intellectuals, 
politicians,  and  citizens. 


It  followed  on  the  heels  of  an  al- 
leged videotape  that  shows  Jahan- 
begloo admitting  to  espionage  and 
attempting  to  lead  a  revolution  on 
behalf  of  the  US.  He  remains  with- 
out formal  charges  and  has  a  slim 
chance  of  fair  trail. 

Another  former  U  of  T  professor 
was  arrested  this  summer  While 
traveling   in   Israel.  Ghazi-Walid 


Falah,  an  Arab  vSiPIMiFlsraeli- 

Canad  ian  citizenship,  was  held  on 
suspicion  of  spying  for  Iran  and  He- 
zbollah. 

Israel  claimed  Falah  refused  to 
follow  police  orders  while  taking 
photos  in  the  town  of  Nahariya. 
Falah  was  released  on  July  30,  after 
spending  22  days  in  jail. 
-GUS  CONSTANTINOU 


// OBITUARY  i 


A  final  farewell  to  a 
beautiful  mind 


Josephine  Lee 

VARSITY  STAFF 


By  the  time  he  was  in  Grade  6,  Robert  Harrington 
Leigh  was  already  proving  himself  a  force  to  be 
reckoned  with  in  the  world  of  mathematics.  He  was 
involved  in  math  competitions,  training  camps  for 
the  Olympiad,  and  a  Saturday  math  club  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Alberta,  where  he  met  his  future  mentor, 
U  of  A  math  professor  Dr.  Andy  Liu. 

The  young  man's  skills  were  so 
extraordinary,  Liu  invited  him  to 
weekly  private  sessions  on  the 
campus. 

Three  years  later,  Leigh  received 
an  honourable  mention  at  the  pres- 
tigious Canadian  Mathematical 
Olympiad,  a  contest  in  which  only 
a  handful  of  high  school  students 
across  Canada  are  invited  to  par- 
ticipate. He  also  published  two 
papers  in  international  journals 
and  won  Edmonton's  annual  Junior 
High  Mathematical  Contest.  While 
still  in  grade  9,  the  young  prodigy 
had  already  completed  his  grade 
12  made  requirements,  and  accord- 
ing to  Liu,  was  reading  400-level 
university  material. 

Leigh's  remarkable  talent  not  only  won  him 
titles,  prizes  and  accolades,  but  also  gave  him 
the  opportunity  to  travel  from  his  hometown  of 
Edmonton  to  Ontario,  Newfoundland,  and  at  one 
point,  Glasgow,  Scotland  to  represent  Canada  at 
the  International  Mathematical  Olympiad. 

It  was  not  until  he  was  in  university  that  Robert 
Harrington  Leigh  began  to  feel  his  natural  math- 
ematical inquisitiveness  being  stifled.  Liu  says 
that  in  his  first  two  years,  Leigh  was  still  able  to 
maintain  "mathematical  curiosity,"  but  as  he  pro- 
gressed further  in  his  study,  he  was  forced  to  nar- 
row his  focus. 

This  development  was  evidenced  in  his  perfor- 
mance at  the  William  Lowell  Putnam  Mathemati- 


Robert  Barrington 
(1986-2006) 


cal  Competition  for  the  three  years  he  was  at  U 
of  T.  The  Putnam  draws  some  2,000  students  each 
year  from  all  the  top  schools  in  North  America  in- 
cluding Princeton,  MIT  and  Harvard.  Leigh  placed 
in  the  top  10  his  first  two  years,  but  in  his  third 
year,  he  finished  in  a  three-way  tie  for  the  11-13 
place — and  out  of  the  top  ten  for  the  first  time  in 
his  life. 

But  regardless  of  his  success  in  any  endeavour, 
friends,  peers  and  faculty  never  had  an  unkind 
word  to  say  about  the  tall,  soft-spo- 
ken math  whiz.  John  Bland,  Head  of 
U  of  T's  Mathematics  Department 
describes  Leigh  as  "exceptional  in 
every  way:  smiling  and  pleasant, 
polite,  kind  and  helpful  to  his  fel- 
low students".  He  was  extremely 
well-liked,  modest  and  always  will- 
ing to  help  out  others. 

He  was  also  incredibly  well- 
rounded,  with  talents  in  several 
diverse  areas.  Leigh  was  a  skilled 
lighting  and  sound  technician,  an 
avid  outdoorsman  and  an  enthu- 
siastic pianist — a  modern  Renais- 
sance man. 

On  Aug.  13,  Robert  Barrington 
Leigh  left  his  Edmonton  home  on 
his  medium-blue  Raleigh  "Cliffhanger"  bike,  head- 
ing for  a  folk  music  festival.  He  would  not  return. 
At  11:30  p.m.,  he  sent  his  girlfriend  a  text  mes- 
sage— the  last  anyone  heard  of  him. 

On  Aug.  22,  River  Tours  West  owner  Alan  Flynn 
spotted  a  body  near  the  north  bank  of  the  North 
Saskatchewan  River,  while  working  with  a  city 
drainage  worker.  The  body  was  positively  identi- 
fied using  dental  records  and  ID  found  on  the  body, 
bringing  the  intense  ten-day  search  for  Robert 
Barrington  Leigh  to  a  tragic  end. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  U  of  T  has  lost  not  only  a 
brilliant  mathematical  mind,  but  also  a  caring  and 
compassionate  student  who  was  an  inspiration  to 
all  who  met  him.  Robert  Barrington  Leigh  will  be 
deeply  missed. 


-Leigh 


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news@thevarsity.ca 


/A  D 


ITY  NEWS 


TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  5, 2006 


Pro-life  group  complains 

A  U  of  T  pro-life  campus  group  is 
miffed  witli  SAC  because  they  were 
unable  to  insert  pro-life  pamphlets 
into  Orientation  frosh  kits. 

In  a  statement  sent  Friday,  the 
University  of  Toronto  Students  for 
Life  (UTSFL),  who  could  not  be 
reached  for  comment,  said  that 


they  had  been  subjected  to  unfair 
treatment  "as  had  been  clearly  dem- 
onstrated by  SAC's  inconsistencies" 
and  hinted  at  possible  discrimina- 
tion based  on  the  groups  views. 

The  pamphlets  contain  a  picture 
of  a  baby  and  woman  on  either  side 
with  a  collection  of  information 
about  abortion.  Sources  stated  in- 
clude Statistics  Canada  and  several 


science  and  health  journals.  The 
same  facts  are  available  on  the  Alli- 
ance for  Life  Ontario  website. 

SAC  general  manager  Rick  Telfer 
said  that  SAC  would  not  comment 
on  the  issue,  adding,  "unfortunate- 
ly, club  representatives  appear  to 
be  twisting  the  facts  into  a  bizarre 
conspiracy  theory." 
-KEVIN  WONG 


Simmer  slowly  until  cooked 

Aramark's  plan  for  campus  eateries  will  take  a  while  to  complete 


Adeel  Ahmad 


Campus  dining  at  U  of  T  is  in  the 
midst  of  significant  changes  at  the 
start  of  the  2006/07  academic  year. 
Various  ethnic  cuisines,  halal  and 
vegetarian  options  will  now  be 
available  on  campus,  along  with  in- 
creased seating  and  greater  conve- 
nience, according  to  Robert  Zmak, 
general  manager  of  Aramark  Cam- 
pus Services  at  U  of  T. 

What  remains  unclear  is  how 
soon  the  changes  will  be  seen  by 
students  given  the  limitations  on 
construction  at  a  busy  campus. 

"What  we're  proposing  to  do  is... 
develop  the  student  experience," 
said  Zmak,  speaking  about  planned 
changes. 

He  said  that  students  will  be  im- 
pressed by  "the  type  and  variety  of 
food,"  as  well  as  the  convenience 
of  "being  able  to  pick  something 
up  and  take  it  with  you."  Diners 
will  notice  "the  abundance  of  selec- 
tion." Aramark  is  "focusing  on  [the] 
freshness,  the  variety.  We're  going 
to  get  away  from  the  sliced  bread 
sandwiches  mom  used  to  make." 

Philadelphia-based  Aramark  was 
awarded  a  ten-year  contract,  start- 
ing Aug.  1,  to  provide  food  on  the 
St.  George  campus.  The  company 
already  feeds  U  of  T's  Scarborough 
campus. 


The  dish  on  campus  eateries.. 


Wonder  what'll  be  cooking  at  Sidney  Smith  next  week?  Well,  go  online 
to  http://utoronto.campusdish.com  and  your  curiosity  will  be  sated. 
The  University  of  Toronto's  food  services  website  outlines  many  of 
its  specific  programs  and  venues  within  weekly  menus  that  students 
can  view  in  advance  to  plan  their  meals. 

Students  will  find  the  Spice  program  at  Robarts  Library,  Sid  Smith 
and  Med  Sci,  which  will  offer  "ethnic-based  cuisine"  with  halal  and 
vegetarian  options. 

A  Booster  Juice  and  salad  bar  will  be  added  at  Med  Sci  as  well  as 
a  Booster  Juice  at  the  Southside  Cafe  at  Sid  Smith.  The  New  College 
dining  hall  will  be  re-designed  to  offer  a  salad  bar,  vegan  station  and 
greater  convenience  with  respect  to  meal  timings. 

At  press  time,  the  website  was  listing  menus  for  Sid's  Southside 
Cafe,  the  Library  Cafe,  the  Sandfird  Fleming  Cafe,  and  the  Medical 
Sciences  Cafe. 


There  was  a  six-week  period 
between  the  Aramark  takeover 
and  the  start  of  classes  on  Sept. 
11,  meaning  that  many  of  the  im- 
provements and  renovations  will 
be  phased  in  during  the  school 
year.  Zmak  did  say,  however,  that 
much  of  the  construction  is  to  be 
complete  by  the  start  of  the  fall  se- 
mester. 

Additions  will  be  made  to  exist- 
ing services  at  Medical  Sciences 
Building,  Sidney  Smith,  Sandford 
Fleming,  as  well  as  the  renovation 
of  the  New  College  dining  hall.  It 


was  unclear,  however,  just  how  no- 
ticeable and  how  swift  the  changes 
would  be.  As  of  Sept.  1,  there  were 
no  discernible  differences  at  the 
Robarts  food  court  or  the  South- 
side  Cafe  at  Sid  Smith. 

"It's  the  pasta  place  with  a  differ- 
ent name,"  said  a  student  at  Ro- 
barts. 

Aramark's  scope,  too,  is  limited. 
None  of  the  changes,  present  or  fu- 
ture, deal  with  the  sleepy  east  side 
of  campus.  According  to  Zmak,  Ara- 
mark is  contracted  by  the  universi- 
ty to  service  only  the  west  side. 


9:15  a.m.:  Waiting  for  the  morning  bell  to  trade 
stocks 


A  DAY  IN  THE  LIFE  OF 


5:25  p.m.:  Suiting  up  at  football  practice  as  captain 
of  the  jocks 


WHO:  George  Polyzois,  a 
fourth-year  commerce 
and  economics  student 
who  captains  the  Var- 
sity Blues  football  team. 
George  trades  stocks  in 
the  morning,  practices 
football  for  two  hours 
in  the  afternoon,  and 
squeezes  school  some- 
where in  between. 

WHERE:  Stock-trading  at 
the  SwiftTrade  Campus 
offices  at  Avenue  Road 
and  Bloor  Street  West; 
the  tackling  takes  place 
on  back  campus  most 
afternoons. 

SHOP  TALK:  There  are  two 
ways  of  making  money 
off  a  trade,  George  ex- 
plains. Beside  the  tra- 
ditional "buy  low,  sell 
high,"  there's  something 
called  selling  short, 
where  a  trader  dumps 
a  chunk  of  shares  now 
with  the  hope  their 
price  will  fall,  so  the 
trader  can  buy  them 
back  for  less. 

"I  do  500  trades  a 
day.  Five  hundred  and 
upward  nowadays," 
he  says.  George  has 
raked  in  enough  to 
cover  his  tuition  for  the 
year — a  rather  better 
record  than  the  football 
team's. 
-MIKE  GHENU 


Eat  at  Sammy's 


Veteran  restaurateur  Sammy  Salhia  takes  the  reins  at  Hart  House 


Havlev  Morrison 


Hanging  in  limbo  since  January, 
the  much  loved  Arbor  room  finally 
switched  hands  on  June  30th.  De- 
spite the  February  protests  and 
petition  launched  by  SAC,  the  Asso- 
ciation of  Part  Time  Students,  and 
CUPE  (Canadian  Union  of  Public 
Employees)  the  Hart  House  Board 
of  Stewards  went  ahead  with  their 
decision  to  change  food  .  service 
providers. 

On  Aug.  9,  Hart  House  Warden 
Margaret  Hancock  announced 
that  the  51-year-old  establishment 
would  be  replaced  by  Sammy's 
Student  Exchange,  run  by  Sammy 
Salhia.  Being  in  the  restaurant  busi- 
ness for  over  30  years  and  presently 
operating  both  a  fast  food  style  deli 
and  restaurant,  Hancock  is  con- 
fident about  Sammy's  restaurant 
know  how.  Along  with  his  daughter 
Sabrina,  Sammy  intends  to  improve 
and  enhance  "the  character  and  nu- 
tritional value"  of  fast  food  options 
previously  served  in  the  Hart  House 
cafeteria. 

Hancock  maintained  that  SAC's 


campaign  against  Hart  House  was 
"misinformed,"  and  that  the  student 
body  had  been  legitimately  repre- 
sented in  the  ultimate  decision.  Al- 
lan Varlacki,  Secretary  of  the  House 
Committee  on  Governance  and  Poli- 
cy Matters  at  Hart  House,  adds  that 
of  the  various  committees,  students 
make  up  the  largest  proportion  on 
the  board. 

In  terms  of  the  10  union  jobs  lost 
in  the  transfer,  Hancock  is  adamant 
that  the  union  workers  will  retain 
their  salary  and  benefits  and  that 
job  relocation  is  an  ongoing  process 
which  the  Board  remains  both  obli- 
gated and  committed  to.  She  is  also 
confident  that  Sammy's  "family  run" 
exchange  will  bring  with  it  a  won- 
derful attitude.  Hancock  is  unaware 
if  Sammy  intends  to  raise  prices, 
but  reaffirms  that  Sammy's  services 
have  been  selected  because  they  co- 
incide with  Hart  House's  interest  to 
provide  fresh,  healthy  and  reason- 
ably priced  food  for  the  students. 

Sammy's  will  continue  to  offer 
lounge  space,  big  screen  TV  pro- 
gramming, Jazz  @  the  Oscars,  Spo- 
ken Word,  art  exhibitions  and  live 


Sammy  Salhia 


entertainment. 
Aside  from 
hosting  open 
Mic,  world 
music  and  pub 
nights, Sabrina 
also  intends 
to  invite  "lo- 
cal breweries 
and  wineries 
to  showcase 

their  products"  such  as  wine  and 
cheese  to  prospective  clientele. 

Despite  the  opposition  launched 
against  Sammy's,  Salhia  is  not  at 
all  hesitant  about  accepting  the  of- 
fer to  run  the  campus  facility  and  is 
confident  that  his  menu  will  be  ca- 
tered precisely  to  the  needs  of  the 
students.  The  newly  renovated  cafe- 
teria will  now  offer  Sammy's  minute- 
made  shawarmas,  hot  plate  meals, 
homemade  pizzas,  open  faced  sand- 
wich melts,  paninis,  a  gourmet  salad 
bar,  fresh  smoothies  and  espressos. 
Vegan  offerings  will  go  beyond  the 
requisite  veggie  burger,  and  daily 
specials  will  include  multinational 
foods  to  cater  to  the  diverse  student 
body. 


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4   TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  5, 2006 


VARSITY  NEWS 


news@thevarsity.ca 


Tomorrow's  Professionals 
Apply  Today! 


Apply  On-line! 


OMSAS  www.ouac.on.ca/omsas/ 

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September  15,  2006:  Last  day  for  registering  for 
on-line  applications 

October  2,  2006:  Application  Deadline 


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November  1,  2006:  Application  deadline  -  First  year 
May  1,  2007:  Application  deadline  -  Upper  year 


TEAS  www.ouac.on.ca/teas/ 
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December  1,  2006:  Application  deadline 


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Application  Service 

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Speech-Language  Pathology) 
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Crikey -'Crocodile 
Hunter'  croaks! 

In  an  act  of  poetic  justice  gone- 
slightly-askew.  Steve  Irwin  was 
struck  down  by  a  stingray  this  week- 
end, while  filming  an  upcoming 
episode  of  his  show.  Though  short- 
tailed  stingrays  are  not  known  to 
be  aggressive,  they  do  have  a  scor- 


pion-like tail,  complete  with  a  barb, 
which  pierced  Irwin's  chest.  Known 
for  his  death  defying  encounters 
with  everything  from  lions,  to  ko- 
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-KEVIN  WONG 


SAC's  Hassum  preaches  outreach 

Fight  for  student  centre,  24-hour  Gerstein  are  student  union's  top  priorities 


Josephine  Lee 

VARSITY  STAFF 


SAC  chairperson  Jen  Hassum  has 
outlined  five  primary  priorities  as 
well  as  a  number  of  secondary  is- 
sues that  will  make  up  the  student 
union's  2006-2007  agenda. 

First  on  the  agenda  is  outreach, 
specifically  reaching  out  to  stu- 
dents to  let  them  know  that  SAC's 
different  advocacies  and  services 
go  beyond  supplying  cheaper  TTC 
metro  passes.  "That's  been  a  huge 
problem,"  said  Hassum. 

Among  numerous  initiatives,  she 
and  SAC  VP  of  Campus  Life  Camille 
Cendana  will  be  taking  two  weeks 
off  in  September  and  going  into 
classrooms  to  make  announce- 
ments and  encourage  student  par- 
ticipation. 

"I  think  a  lot  of  people  don't  know 
that  SAC  is  a  good  example  of  a 
direct  democracy  because  unlike 
many  other  student  unions,  every 
member  has  a  vote  and  a  voice  at 
our  commission  meetings.  So  if 
people  wanna  see  SAC  changed, 
they  just  need  to  come  to  one  of  our 
meetings  and  propose  something." 

The  union  will  also  address  the 
problem  of  childcare  space,  par- 
ticularly at  UTM,  with  an  enormous 
campaign  involving  distributing 
10,000  postcards,  which  students 
will  sign  and  then  return  to  SAC. 
SAC  hopes  to  use  the  signed  post- 
cards to  persuade  the  administra- 
tion to  establish  a  childcare  facility 


at  UTM. 

SAC  will  also  follow  up  on  issues 
of  diversity  and  tolerance  on-cam- 
pus,  in  light  of  the  "Islamophobic" 
incidents  of  the  past  spring. 
"We're  working  on  a  campaign 
with  [the  Canadian  Federation  of 
Students].  We'll  also  be  distribut- 
ing pins  that  say,  'No  Islamphobia, 
anti-Semitism,  racism'  during  Frosh 
Week.  We're  gonna  be  having  some 
follow-up  events  and  really  trying  to 
work  to  make  our  campus  inclusive 
and  to  make  sure  that  if  there  are 
any  other  problems  in  the  future 
that  we  come  together  as  a  commu- 
nity," said  Hassum. 

Tuition  fees  are  another  focus  of 
intense  scrutiny.  SAC  recently  ex- 
pressed alarm  over  projected  tu- 
ition revenues,  saying  that  tuition 
seemed  to  be  increasing  at  a  larger 
rate  than  that  allowed  by  the  provin- 
cial government.  Hassum  explains 
that  SAC  hopes  to  make  tuition  fees 
a  main  issue  so  that  by  the  time  of 
the  2007  provincial  elections,  the 
union  will  be  able  to  lobby  political 
parties  to  make  a  commitment  to 
stopping  tuition  fee  increases. 

The  last  of  the  five  priorities  is 
the  issue  of  creating  a  student  com- 
mons. 

"There's  an  advisory  committee 
on  student  space  and  SAC  has  a 
seat  on  it  and  we've  submitted  our 
proposal.  I  actually  have  the  draft 
report  for  the  committee  and  we're 
gonna  pass  it  at  the  next  meeting 
and  then  look  into  what  buildings 


we  can  work  on  immediately  and 
what  we  can  commit  to  for  perma- 
nent facilities." 

Though  these  five  issues  are  sin- 
gled out  as  the  top  priorities  of  the 
year,  it  is  unlikely  that  students  will 
see  tangible  or  significant  results 
by  the  end  of  the  year. 
"A  lot  of  our  organizational  priori- 
ties like  outreach,  how  do  you  judge 
if  you're  successful  at  outreach?  The 
childcare  issue,  we're  not  gonna  see 
a  permanent  facility  build  next  year, 
but  we're  definitely  gonna  be  rais- 
ing it  as  an  issue.  Same  thing  with 
Islamophobia:  we're  never  gonna 
declare  victory  to  diversity  and  tol- 
erance but  I  think  these  [issues]  are 
very  ambitious  and  even  just  going 
at  them  and  putting  them  out  there 
and  making  them  an  issue  within 
the  university  community  is  worth- 
while." 

Students  will  see  more  definite 
results  from  work  on  the  agenda's 
"secondary"  issues.  These  include 
trying  to  make  Gerstein  a  24-hour 
library,  expanding  the  Walk  Safer 
program's  hours  (it  currently  oper- 
ates until  midnight),  and  creating  a 
student  rights  handbook  to  be  dis- 
tributed in  September  or  October. 

"A  lot  of  these  secondary  issues  I 
think  we  can  definitely  get  victories 
on,"  said  Hassum.  "But  as  for  the  pri- 
mary ones,  well,  I  think  we've  gotten 
the  ball  rolling.  We've  already  been 
working  on  all  these  issues  for  the 
past  four  months  and  we've  already 
started  to  get  by  it.  I'm  optimistic." 


//  ONLINE  EXCLUSIVE:  WHO  SPEAKS  FOR  YOU? 


400,000 

Bullhorn  size  shows  number  X.  }  Each  stick  figure  represents  a 
of  student  members  claimed  A.  ""^  member  student  association 

Check  www.thevarsity.ca/news  to  read  a  special  report  about  the  student 
organizations  who  make  noise  on  your  behalf.  What  sets  the  Canadian  Federation 
of  Students  (CPS),  the  Canadian  Alliance  of  Student  Associations  (CASA),  and  the 
Ontario  University  Students'  Alliance  (OUSA)  apart? 


New  web 
service 
means  less 
memory 
work 

Erica  Cupido  

A  wealth  of  information  can  be  ac- 
cessed through  the  University  of  To- 
ronto websites,  but  between  ROSI, 
UtorlD,  library  catalogues,  WebCT, 
and  CCNET,  students  are  often 
overwhelmed  by  the  choices — and 
by  the  number  of  logins  they  must 
memorize. 

But  a  new  pilot  project,  called 
Blackboard,  has  just  been  launched 
at  U  of  T  to  provide  a  student  portal 
that  pools  both  academic  and  non- 
academic  information  in  the  same 

SEE 'BLACKPOARD'- NEXT  PAGE 


news@thevarsity.ca  VARSITY  NEWS 


TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  5, 2006 


//CRIME-IN-BRIEF 


Big 

Brother  is 
watching  - 
your  laptop 


Shaun  Alphonso 


A  new  laptop  security  device  now 
offered  by  the  U  of  T  campus  police 
aims  to  curb  campus  laptop  thefts, 
ninety  per  cent  which  befall  stu- 
dents, according  to  U  of  T  campus 
police  Const.  Peter  Franchi. 

A  "security  plate"  with  a  track- 
ing number  is  stuck  onto  your  lap- 
top, using  very  sticky  glue.  Even  if 
thieves  pry  it  off,  an  indelible  tattoo 
underneath  will  inform  any  and  all 
that  the  piece  of  equipment  is  sto- 
len. 

The  plates  are  offered  by  an  Amer- 
ican company  called  STOP  (Security 
Tracking  of  Office  Property),  and  in 
June,  U  of  T  became  the  first  uni- 
versity in  Canada  to  take  up  STOP. 
Franchi  said  that  about  900  STOP 
plates  have  been  sold  so  far,  mainly 
to  faculty  members. 

"Professional  thieves  are  not  in- 
terested in  the  laptop  itself,  only  in 
its  resale  value  on  the  open  market," 
he  said. 

According  to  him,  administrators 
at  American  institutions  such  as 
MIT,  Harvard,  and  Yale  have  report- 
ed dramatic  drops  in  laptop  thefts 
after  taking  up  the  program. 

Franchi  describes  it  as  a  preven- 
tative and  reactive  measure  to  pro- 


n».>iers!iip  Permanently  Moniloiei! 
TTtienWi  RigMlul  Ownet  &  Avoifl 
STOP  fnfiT'www.sHipltieli  com 

)  niMiuLiiirii  II 


S    M  0  0 


Const.  Peter  Franchi  shows  off  STOP'S  security  plate 


tect  student  equipment.  "You  are 
not  only  protecting  your  $2,000  in- 
vestment, you're  also  protecting  the 
intellectual  property  inside  it." 
STOP  plates  are  available  for  pur- 


chase at  the  Campus  Police  office 
at  21  Sussex  Ave.,  Monday  to  Friday 
between  10  a.m.  and  6  p.m.  STOP 
plates  will  be  sold  at  various  loca- 
tions and  events  during  orientation 


Roughly  85  incidents  were  formally 
reported  to  the  University  of  Toron- 
to Police  in  August.  Most  responses 
(40)  dealt  with  thefts  or  attempted 
thefts,  usually  involving  unattended 
wallets  or  bags,  secured  bicycles 
stolen  from  a  rack,  or  the  robbery 
of  computers  and  computer  parts. 

Thirteen  bikes  were  stolen  last 
month,  six  of  those  on  Aug.  14 
alone.  Sites  where  more  than  one 
bike  went  missing  include  the 
Koffler  Student  Services  Centre, 
Wetmore  Hall,  and  the  Department 
of  Forestry. 

About  ten  unwanted  or  suspi- 
cious individuals  were  sighted  on, 
or  removed  from  U  of  T  property. 


Incidents  involved  vandalism,  two 
minor  assaults,  and  a  drunken  man 
who  was  taken  to  52  division  after 
refusing  to  get  into  a  cab  campus 
police  had  called  up  for  him. 

Police  calls  also  bordered  on  the 
bizarre.  At  155  College  Street,  a  sus- 
picious person  was  found  scream- 
ing at  the  building.  On  August  6th, 
a  30  foot  section  of  fence  was  re- 
ported damaged  by  the  police  dur- 
ing the  rescue  of  a  "trapped  male" 
at  the  Fields  Institute. 

Finally,  a  medical  call  was  an- 
swered on  the  Aug.  17,  when  a 
studying  student  passed  out  after 
not  having  eaten  for  48  hours. 
-AMY  SMITHERS 


'BLACKBOARD'  -  CONTINUED  FROM  LAST 
PAGE 

place. 

Marden  Paul,  director  of  strategic 
computing  at  the  University's  Com- 
puting Management  Board,  said  the 
decision  to  bring  Blackboard  to  U  of 
T  was  made  after  collecting  results 
of  a  student  survey.  The  survey  was 
a  vital  "opportunity  to  get  masses  of 
people  to  respond  to  things  they  are 
interested  in"  seeing  in  a  web-based 
system. 

Blackboard  features  a  messaging 
service  which  will  help  students 
communicate  with  their  professors, 
and  help  commuters  stay  in  the 
know  with  campus  news,  such  as 
snow  days. 

Another  resource,  currently  called 
the  BORG  (Blackboard  Organization 
Reference  Group),  is  a  searchable 
online  catalogue  of  clubs  and  asso- 


ciations that  Paul  hopes  will  encour- 
age students  to  find  ways  of  getting 
involved. 

The  system  has  already  been  im- 
plemented in  various  North  Ameri- 
can schools,  specifically  the  Vermont 
State  Colleges.  Blackboard's  official 
website  states  that  the  academic 
suite  provides  "one  stop  access  to 
the  resources  [students]  need  [as 
well  as]  the  flexibility  necessary  for 
each  college  to  individualize." 

The  main  goal  is  to  "extract  the 
knowledge  from  data  and  present  it 
in  a  way  that's  easy  to  get  to,  useful 
and  secure".  Eventually,  Paul  would 
like  to  have  Blackboard  provide  stu- 
dents with  comprehensive  informa- 
tion about  scholarships  and  career 
opportunities. 

The  portal  can  be  accessed  in  its  current 
pilot  status  at  www.utoronto.ca/black- 
board.htm. 


JOIN    THE    TORONTO    BLUE    JAYS    IN  CELEBRATING 


MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  18,  2006  @  7:07  P.M. 


TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  5, 2006 


The  Varsity 


Hey  Frank,  with  Internet 
that's  always  fast,  we 
can  hang  out  more. 


30: 


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Othercondrtionsapply.l.  "Always  fast' and  "without  slowdowns"  apply  to  the  access  dedicated  from  the  subscriber's  modem  to  Bell's  switching  equipment.  Speeds  may  vary  with  your  technical  configuration,  Internet  traffic,  yourserver  or  otherfactors.  2.  Available  to  new  Sympatico  subscribers. 
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opinions@thevarsity.ca 


VARSITY  COMMENT 


The  other  opt-out  revolution 


We  hear  that  today  marks  the  of- 
ficial commencement  of  Orienta- 
tion Week — the  hallowed  time  al- 
lotted for  you  to  get  to  know  your 
fellow  frosh,  have  fun,  and  begin  a 
new  chapter  of  your  life.  We  know 
it's  frosh  week  not  because  we  pay 
attention  to  these  things,  but  be- 
cause we  can  hear  the  frat  on  St. 
George  St.  blasting  their  stereo 
from  here  (Red  Hot  Chili  Peppers? 
What  decade  is  this??)  in  a  lame 
attempt  to  attract  the  confused, 
sweatpants-wearing  masses.  We 
can  smell  it  in  the  air — that  fresh 
scent  of  free  frosh-kit  condoms 
made  into  slippery  water  balloons, 
the  hot,  bleached  'n'  plastic-bound 
smell  of  poli  sci  course  readers, 
the  salicylic  odour  of  acne  medi- 
cation, and  the  egregious  reek  of 
Axe. 


-  EDITORIAL  ^ 

We  know  what  you're  thinking 
at  this  very  moment,  you  who 
reached  adulthood  after  9/11. 
You're  expecting  this  editorial 
to  talk  about  how  we  remember 
our  own  frosh  week,  remembered 
in  our  fuzzy  21-  and  22-year-old 
memories,  and  how  much  fun  it 
was,  how  we  made  friends,  how 
we  learned  not  to  eat  six  egg  rolls 
in  a  row  and  wash  them  down  with 
Smirnoff  Razberi,  and  how  that 
guy  with  the  Abercrombie  shirt 
we  thought  was  cute  was  actu- 
ally only  cute  after  the  Smirnoff, 
and  how  his  shirt  was  actually 
made  for  him  by  his  mom  and  said 
"Adam  Cornbie." 

We  would  go  on  to  relate  how  we 


shined  shoes  for  cystic  fibrosis, 
hungover  on  a  Tuesday  morning, 
and  had  an  epiphany  that  maybe, 
just  maybe,  it  was  possible  to  do 
some  good  in  this  world,  and  how 
it  could  have  been  us  with  cystic 
fibrosis,  but  it  wasn't,  it  wasn't,  and 
how  we  made  a  vow  that,  once  we 
reached  35  and,  with  it,  our  last 
student  loan  payment,  we  would 
give  money  to  charity  too,  or  at 
least  shop  at  stores  that  offered  to 
donate  a  small  part  of  the  cost  of 
our  purchase  on  our  behalf. 

We  would  love  to  say  all  of  those 
things,  but  we  can't.  We  never 
went  to  frosh  week.  We're  sorry. 
We  also  never  went  to  our  prom. 
We're  really  not  bad  people.  Part 
of  the  reason  for  not  going  to  our 
prom  was  that  it  fell  on  the  black 
year  we  had  shaved  our  heads. 


But  the  real  reason  was  money 
(we  had  none).  Between  avoiding 
prom  and  frosh  week,  we  saved 
around  $400,  which  we  were  able 
to  spend  on  a  whole  half-course  in 
existentialism,  where  we  met  Uni- 
versity Boyfriend  #1  anyway. 

At  The  Varsity,  we  never  try  to 
get  you  to  do  what  we  do,  because 
a)  it's  pointless,  and  b)  you  really 
don't  want  to  be  like  us — really. 
But  we'll  give  out  just  one  piece  of 
friendly  advice:  don't  take  part  in 
frosh  week  if  you  don't  want  to.  It 
can  be  really  fun  for  some  people, 
and  profitable  in  terms  of  free  de- 
odorant samples  and  whatnot, 
but  really  boring  and  sometimes 
humiliating  in  the  extreme  for 
others.  You  can  make  friends  and 
relax,  or  alternately  you  can  lose 
yourself  in  chanting  and  escapism 


TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  5, 2006  7 


and  never  really  come  back,  only 
to  find  yourself  a  rez  don  at  24  still 
trying  to  finish  up  that  econ  de- 
gree whilst  unsuccessfully  chas- 
ing around  first-year  girls. 

Pathetic,  no?  Yes,  it  could  be.  So 
don't  go  if  it's  not  for  you.  Go  to  the 
events  you  don't  have  to  pay  for  if 
you  simply  must  meet  people.  Get 
started  on  The  Faerie  Queene  so 
you  can  impress  the  hott  poetry 
prof,  if  that's  how  you  roll.  Or  just 
curl  up  in  bed,  grab  the  cutie  from 
the  next  dorm,  and  watch  "Dead- 
wood"  on  your  laptop  together. 

And  if  all  the  "partying"  is  what 
you're  after — though  you  really, 
really  shouldn't  be  as  you're  way 
too  young — well,  as  Britney  said 
in  that  video  Kevin  took  of  her  that 
got  leaked  to  YouTube:  "I'd  rather 
just  sit  at  home  and  drink." 


" LETTERS  - 


Layton  off  the  mark  on 
Afghanistan 

It  is  Canada's  duty  to  stay  the  course 


CamVidler 

ASSOCIATE  COMMENT  EDITOR 


After  a  summer  full  of  heavy  fighting 
and  high  casualties,  many  Canadians 
have  started  questioning  our  military 
presence  in  Afghanistan.  Catering 
to  these  concerns,  NDP  leader  Jack 
Layton  wants  a  total  withdrawal  of 
Canadian  troops  from  Afghanistan 
by  Febuary  2007,  claming  that  it  is 
"not  the  right  mission  for  Canada." 
Rather  than  just  suggesting  a  review 
of  NATO  strategy,  Layton  hopes  to 
profit  politically  by  being  the  first  Ca- 
nadian politician  to  oppose  the  entire 
operation. 

This  appeal  to  anti-war  party  mem- 
bers may  help  him  at  the  upcoming 
NDP  policy  convention  in  Quebec 
City,  but  Canadians  should  think 
twice  before  supporting  Layton's 
calls  for  retreat. 

The  debate  over  whether  we  should 
remove  the  Taliban  from  power  is 
over.  We  did.  The  only  "right  mission" 
at  this  point  is  to  clean  up  the  mess. 
Layton  can  go  on  as  much  as  he  likes 
about  how  the  neo-conservative 
agenda  doesn't  work  and  how  Canada 
shouldn't  follow  "the  defence  policy 
prescriptions  of  the  Bush  administra- 
tion." Most  Canadians  would  agree 


with  him.  But  this  doesn't  change  the 
fact  that  we  violated  the  sovereignty 
of  another  country  and  that  our  in- 
ternational credibility  requires  us  to 
leave  Afghanistan  in  a  positive  state. 
Like  the  Americans  in  Iraq,  whether 
one  agrees  with  the  invasion  premise 
or  not,  we  have  a  responsibility  to 
protect  the  populace  until  they  can 
manage  on  their  own. 

That  is  not  to  say  that  the  current 
approach  is  perfect.  Layton  is  right  to 
point  out  that  rebuilding  assistance  is 
lacking.  More  effort  is  required  to  pre- 
vent needless  civilian  deaths  that  are 
so  effectively  used  by  the  Taliban  as 
propaganda  to  recruit  new  guerillas. 
Also,  using  NATO  troops  to  destroy 
poppy  fields  is  quickly  turning  into 
an  example  of  "mission  creep"  that 
does  nothing  but  breed  contempt  for 
our  presence.  Despite  international 
concerns  surrounding  record  opium 
harvests,  drug  enforcement  should 
only  become  a  priority  once  the  rural 
areas  have  been  secured.  Even  then, 
enforcement  should  be  administered 
primarily  by  the  Afghan  government. 

Although  our  mission  is  not  with- 
out its  faults,  these  issues  can  and 
should  be  addressed  within  the  con- 
text of  the  current  campaign.  A  hasty 
withdrawal  of  NATO  troops  would 


be  disastrous.  General  Abdul  Rahim 
Wardak,  the  Afghan  defence  minis- 
ter, estimates  that  without  a  foreign 
military  presence  the  national  army 
would  need  150,000  to  200,000  mem- 
bers in  order  to  effectively  patrol  its 
borders  and  fight  the  Taliban.  At  this 
point  the  entire  Afghan  forces  num- 
ber just  over  30,000  soldiers,  barely 
enough  to  secure  the  major  cities. 
Even  the  coalition  forces  are  being 
stretched  thin. 

We  have  a  moral  duty  to  the  Af- 
ghan people  to  provide  them  with 
security.  We  also  have  a  duty  to  the 
international  community  to  ensure 
that  Afghanistan  doesn't  re-emerge 
as  the  terrorist  haven  it  once  was.  Un- 
fortunately, these  duties  require  us  to 
partake  in  armed  conflict.  A  strategy 
that  doesn't  recognize  this  reality  is 
doomed  to  fail. 

Any  successful  mission  requires 
military  resolve  and  we  shouldn't 
let  a  few  casualties  send  us  running 
home.  What  would  our  fallen  soldiers 
think  if  they  found  out  that  they  had 
sacrificed  their  lives  for  nothing?  Lay- 
ton  should  spend  less  time  appealing 
to  his  voters  and  more  time  thinking 
about  what  is  best  for  the  country 
that  we,  by  default,  have  promised  to 
protect. 


Shine  on,  U  of  T 

For  more  than  four  decades, 
first-year  students  from  nearly  60 
Canadian  universities  and  colleges 
have  raised  money  during  Orienta- 
tion week's  Shinerama  to  help  find 
a  cure,  or  an  effective  control,  for 
cystic  fibrosis  (CF).  In  fact,  last  year 
35,000  students  from  coast  to  coast 
banded  together  to  shine  shoes, 
wash  cars,  and  hold  numerous  other 
community  events,  raising  more 
than  $920,000  for  the  fight  against 
CF.  We  are  very  proud  to  announce 
that,  thanks  in  part  to  the  commu- 
nity's support,  University  College 
was  a  great  part  of  this  achievement, 
raising  over  $4,000  in  2005. 

This  year  we  plan  to  beat  that 
total  on  our  "Shine  Day,"  Saturday, 
September  9,  but  we  need  your  help. 
We  ask  everyone  at  U  of  T  to  please 
give  generously  to  support  our  Shin- 
erama campaign.  All  money  raised 
will  go  to  the  Canadian  Cystic  Fibro- 
sis Foundation's  (CCFF)  research 
and  treatment  programs.  When 


Shinerama  began  in  1964,  most 
children  with  cystic  fibrosis  did  not 
live  long  enough  to  attend  kindergar- 
ten; today,  half  of  all  Canadians  with 
CF  may  expect  to  live  to  age  37  and 
beyond.  Children  with  CF  in  Canada 
can  now  look  forward  to  becom- 
ing young  adults  and  pursing  their 
own  dreams  of  attending  college  or 
university. 

For  more  information  on  Shinera- 
ma or  the  CCFF,  pJlease  contact  me  at 
(416)  522-8701  or  at  lucas.castellani® 
gmail.com.  Thank  you  in  advance  for 
helping  our  students  to  shine! 

Lucas  Castellam 

University  College  Shinerama  Chair 


The  Varsityw&\cGmz  letters  from  our 
readers.  Send  letters  (250  words  max.) 
with  your  full  name  &  phone  number  to: 

opinjons@thevarsjty.ca 

Opinions  submissions 
are  also  welcome. 


//QUOTABLE 


A  number  of  media  sources  that  should  have  better 
things  to  do  weighed  in  on  the  addition  of  Rosie 
O'Donnell  to  that  august  television  program.  The  View. 
The  Associated  Press  gave  the  former  Betty  Rubble  far  too 
^     much  credit  while  publishing  this  excerpt  from  O'Donnell's  blog: 

'"it  will  be  hard  4  me  2  not  b  the  boss,' she  wrote  recently  in  a  style  reminiscent  of 
the  poet  e  e  cummings.  'it  is  already  and  we  have  only  just  begun.'" 


Right,  e  e  cummings — or  a  4th  grade  MSNer.  With  O'Donnell  at  the 
helm,  the  outlook  sure  isn't  rosy  for  The  View  this  season. 


VARSITY 

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Toronto,  ON  M5S  1J6 


Editorial: 
(416)  946-7600 


Advertising 
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Editor-in-Chief 

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Production  Manager 

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News  Editor 

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Ad  Designer 

Rogelio  Briseno 


8  TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  5, 2006  VARSITY  COMMENT  opinions@thevarsity.ca 

Of  fads  and  real  progress 

Scientists  and  activists  vie  for  centre  stage  at  AIDS  conference 


Sandy  Huen 

VARSITY  STAFF 


For  many,  the  XVI  International  AIDS  Confer- 
ence held  in  Toronto  this  past  August  was  an 
opportunity  for  activists,  spokespeople,  and 
celebrities  to  rally  together  for  a  common 
cause.  For  me,  the  conference  was  an  oppor- 
tunity to  see  top  international  researchers  at 
their  best:  gathering  to  tackle  the  scientific 
puzzle  that  is  HIV.  I  couldn't  wait  to  attend  as 
many  abstract  sessions  and  symposiums  as  I 
could,  and  1  was  well  prepared  not  to  under- 
stand any  of  the  nomenclature  thrown  my 
way. 

Surprisingly,  it  wasn't  the  scientific  lingo 
that  perplexed  me  during  the  conference,  but 
the  lingo  of  activism.  Even  a  truly  scary  virus 
like  HIV  can't  escape  the  power  of  the  fad.  And 
the  fad  of  the  conference  was  tuberculosis. 

Many  a  session  cautioned  that  TB,  a  com- 
mon and  entirely  treatable  global  infection, 
is  today's  leading  killer  among  those  that  are 
HIV-positive.  Activists  like  Stephen  Lewis  ar- 
gue that  research  grants,  then,  should  logi- 
cally go  to  fund  the  distribution  of  TB  treat- 
ments in  areas  most  affected  by  this  "double 
plague."  But  only  two  years  ago,  the  leading 
killer  among  AIDS  sufferers  was  another  com- 
mon infection:  pneumonia.  HIV  itself  doesn't 
kill — other  infections  do. 

The  list  of  opportunistic  infections  that  prey 
on  HIV-positive  patients  is  a  long  one.  As  AIDS 
progresses,  even  the  everyday  bacteria  that 
inhabit  our  bodies  can  cause  fatal  sickness. 
But  that's  the  undeniable  end  of  AIDS,  and 
the  essential  ethical  problem  that  research- 
ers and  philanthropists  must  consider  when 
allocating  funds. 


An  activist  (left)  takes  her  message  to  the  streets.  The  conference  was  an  opportunity  to  share  cultural 
experience  as  well  as  science  (right). 


A  professor  once  told  me  that  every  person 
infected  with  HIV  today  has  a  death  certificate 
signed  in  their  name;  the  fight  against  AIDS 
can  only  prolong  life.  If  the  Gates  Foundation 
donated  $500  million  to  fight  every  opportu- 
nistic infection  that  threatened  the  lives  of 
HIV-positive  patients,  they'd  be  fighting  a  war 
against  virtually  every  microbe  on  earth. 

This  is  one  of  the  reasons  AIDS  treatment  is 
so  inextricably  linked  to  improving  sanitation, 
food  quality,  and  the  standard  of  living  in  the 
developing  world.  Opportunistic  infections 
like  malaria  don't  kill  HIV-positive  patients  in 


the  United  States  or  Canada  because  our  qual- 
ity of  life  ensures  us  clean  tap  water  and  other 
amenities. 

If  HIV  treatment  is  fighting  a  losing  battle, 
are  the  TB  activists  completely  wrong  in  work- 
ing for  wide  distribution  of  TB  drugs  in  Africa? 
Should  the  majority  of  research  grants  instead 
be  given  to  scientists  looking  for  a  vaccine  for 
HIV  rather  than  treatment  for  those  already 
infected? 

Admittedly,  a  large  focus  of  the  scientific 
part  of  the  conference  was  on  new  approach- 
es to  prevention,  like  microbicides.  However, 


a  slew  of  new,  super-potent  drugs  targeted  to 
resistant  strains  of  HIV  for  long-established 
infections  were  also  discussed.  Support,  be 
it  in  monetary  form  or  not,  seems  in  large 
enough  supply  to  sustain  the  many  directions 
of  HIV  treatment  and  research. 

These  new  avenues  go  far  beyond  the  mere 
science;  the  political  and  social  structures  of 
the  Third  World  are  always  in  the  backdrop. 
HIV  treatment  for  female  sex  workers  in  Afri- 
ca, for  example,  has  been  an  important  focus 
for  both  research  and  social  programs  alike. 

HIV  science  is  nearly  always  too  difficult  to 
separate  from  activism.  Indeed,  it  is  so  diffi- 
cult that  activists  at  the  conference  began  to 
crash  scientific  symposiums  to  commandeer 
mics  and  advertise  their  rallies.  The  sympo- 
sium speakers,  on  the  most  part,  hid  their  an- 
noyance better  than  I  did. 

It  was  a  good  but  futile  attempt  on  the  part 
of  conference  organizers  to  segregate  activ- 
ists to  a  "Global  Village"  floor  of  their  own, 
because  nothing  can  really  stop  a  vehement 
activist  from  spreading  his  message.  It  is, 
however,  very  good  fun  to  watch  a  bunch  of 
determined  activists  handing  out  fliers  to 
other  determined  activists  trying  to  hand  out 
fliers.  Who  better  to  enlist  in  your  cause  but 
others  with  a  cause  of  their  own? 

In  the  end,  the  fever  of  philanthropy  didn't 
escape  me,  although  I  had  obstinately  refused 
to  be  solicited.  I'm  proud  to  say  I  left  the  con- 
ference with  a  string  of  paper  beads  made  by 
a  woman  in  Uganda,  whom  I  hope  some  of  my 
$17  will  reach.  Of  course,  I  hope  even  more 
that  one  of  those  many  scientists  in  atten- 
dance will  develop  an  effective  HIV  vaccine 
so  that  future  conferences  will  tout  successes 
instead  of  warnings. 


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10  TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  5, 2006 


VARSITY  FEATURE 


editor@thevarsity.ca 


Frosh  week  FYI 

 Kristin  Eberth.  Malcolm  Johnston  &  Alexandra  Kazia  

Who's  got  the  best  Orientation  week?  Which 
events  should  you  attend?  And  how  the  heck 
did  they  come  up  with  this  college  system? 


C 


UTM 


THEME:  "Crack  the  Code " 
IN  A  NUTSHELL:  Not  sure— website  fea- 
tures a  duck.  The  schedule  includes 
a  visit  by  a  hypnotist  (always  good 
for  a  few  laughs),  a  trip  to  Medi- 
eval Times  (fun  if  you're  twelve  or 
ripped),  and  a  Wonderland  excur- 
sion. The  week  is  among  the  most 
organized,  with  bursaries  available 
for  deserving  students  who  can't 
afford  the  price  tag  and  a  snazzy 
website  complete  with  discussion 
board. 


c 


UTSC 


THEME:  none 

IN  A  NUTSHELL:  UTSC's  frosh  leaders 
have  planned  a  hypnotist,  a  trip  to 
Toronto  Island,  and  an  "Amazing 
Race"  event,  but  the  most  outstand- 
ing feature  is  the  swag  available  to 
be  won.  Among  the  items  are  an  all- 
expenses  paid  trip  to  Montreal  for 
New  Year's,  a  portable  DVD  player,  a 
$250  student  bursary,  Motorola  and 
Ericsson  cellphones,  Stratford  tick- 
ets, three  $200  certificates  for  the  U 
of  T  bookstore,  and  more. 

TRINITY 

THEME:  RevoluTrin 

IN  A  NUTSHELL:  "Change  is  what  a  revo- 
lution is  all  about,  which  is  why  we 
decided  to  call  our  frosh  week  Revo- 
luTrin," says  the  organizers'  website. 
The  week  is  crammed  with  revo- 
lution-themed  events  and  a  V  for 
Vendetta  motif,  beginning  with  '60s 
Counter  Culture  Day  and  continuing 
with  1900s  Paris  Day  and  Scientific 
Revolution  Day  (which  sounds  con- 
siderably less  intriguing  than  the 
others).  The  week  is  capped  off  by 
a  trip  to  a  camp  a  few  hours  north 
of  Toronto  where  the  young  rebel 
upstarts  will  be  let  loose  to  stir  up 
dissent  beachside. 


THEME:  "You  are  here.  Vic " 
IN  A  NUTSHELL:  A  "Wacky  Tacky  Boat 
Cruise "  on  Lake  Ontario  and  a  Video 
Games  Showdown  (which  will  be 
lots  of  fun  for  those  with  control- 
lers in  their  hands;  not  so  much  for 
everyone  else)  are  the  standouts  for 
Vic's  frosh  week.  A  Casino  Night  and 
a  Faculty  Coffeehouse  are  planned 
for  Wednesday  night  and  a  lecture 
from  history  professor  /  local  funny- 
man Ken  Bartlett  on  Thursday  will 
make  everyone  want  to  declare  his- 
tory as  their  major. 

WOODSWORTH 

THEME:  "The  Breakout" 
IN  A  NUTSHELL:  Not  sure— sounds  like 
something  to  do  with  acne.  But 
there  are  some  interesting  events 
planned,  most  notably  "The  Chase," 
a  college-wide  survival  game  that 
aims  to  acquaint  frosh  with  the  peo- 
ple and  places  they  need  to  know 
around  Woodsworth.  A  paintball 
outing  to  Sgt.  Splatter  is  slotted  for 
Tuesday  night  and  the  college  will 
take  a  boat  cruise  Friday.  On  Satur- 
day, Woodworthians  take  a  noble 
turn  by  participating  in  oUTreach 


Read  on,  get  out 
there,  and  then  pick 
up  7776  Varsity  next 
week  to  see  the 
best  of  Orientation 
week  in  pictures 


A  brief  history  of 
bureaucracy  at  U  of  T 

U  of  T's  college  system  is  unique  among  Cana- 
dian universities.  While  the  colleges  are  tied 
strongly  to  the  university  itself,  each  retains 
a  certain  level  of  autonomy.  Originally,  some 
of  the  colleges  were  completely  independent, 
and  several  of  them  were  denominational. 

In  the  late  nineteenth  century  a  push  to 
uniting  the  colleges  with  the  University  of 
Toronto  began.  This  push  occurred  primarily 
in  order  to  justify  increases  in  funding  from 
the  government  for  the  expansion  of  U  of  T.  A 


proposal  put  forth  in  1884  invited  Queen's  to 
move  to  Toronto  and  join  as  well,  but  Queen's 
refused. 

The  process  of  creating  the  federated  col- 
lege system  as  we  have  it  now  took  a  num- 
ber of  years — for  example,  Victoria  College 
relocated  from  Cobourg  and  formally  entered 
federation  in  1889,  Trinity  College  relocated 
from  Queen  St.  in  1925  after  entering  federa- 
tion shortly  after  the  turn  of  the  century,  and 
St.  Michael's  College  formally  entered  federa- 
tion in  1910. 

Until  the  1970s  these  three  colleges  re- 
quired students  to  take  a  "religious  knowl- 


edge" course  in  their  respective  denomina- 
tions. In  1974,  however,  the  college  system 
was  changed  significantly. 

Subjects  that  were  originally  administered 
by  individual  colleges  became  departments, 
funded  and  run  by  the  University.  At  the  same 
time,  colleges  were  encouraged  to  develop 
their  own  courses  and  programs  that  they 
would  be  responsible  for  administering. 

The  academic  role  of  the  colleges  has  been 
increasing  in  recent  years  in  order  to  allow 
them  to  further  develop  these  individual  pro- 
grams. 


WHAT:  Faculty  of  Law 
ESTABLISHED:  1887 

NOTABLE  ALUMNI:  Paul  Martin  (64),  Bill  Graham 
('64),  Bob  Rae  ('77),  David  Miller  ('84).  So  if  you  want 
to  be  a  politician — or  meet  a  future  politician. . . 
TRIVIA:  Until  1958  the  Law  Society  of  Upper  Canada 
wouldn't  recognize  U  of  T  as  a  degree-granting  institu- 
tion, and  wouldn't  let  U  of  T  law  grads  be  admitted  to 
the  Ontario  Bar. 


WHAT:  Faculty  of  Music 
ESTABLISHED:  U  of  T  took  over  the  Toronto 
Conservatory  of  Music  in  1919.  The  Faculty  of 
Music  formed  in  1956.  In  1990  the  Conserva- 
tory became  independent  of  U  of  T. 
NOTABLE  ALUMNI:  Glenn  Gould  studied  piano 
at  the  Conservatory. 

RANDOM  FACT:  All  U  of  T  students  can  access 
the  Naxos  Music  Library,  an  enormous  online 
collection  of  classical  music,  for  free  via  the 
Faculty  of  Music's  website. 


2006,  a  community  service  initiative 
with  opportunities  to  clean  up  gar- 
bage, organize  reading  circles,  and 
more. 


INNIS 


THEME:  .\o[ie 

IN  A  NUTSHELL:  Innis's  week  storms  out 
of  the  gates  on  Tuesday  morning 
with  an  hour-long  event  called  "Awk- 
wardFest  "  But  things  pick  up  after 
that  with  a  trip  to  the  Hart  House 
Farm  in  the  Calendon  Hills  where  a 
reported  "100-foot  sub!"  will  be  on 
offer  (to  be  verified).  A  Blue  Jays 
game  is  planned  for  Wednesday  and 


an  on-campus  Amazing 
Race  and  Scavenger  Hunt 
for  that  evening.  Excur- 
sions to  the  Playdium  and 
the  climbing  gym  are  in 
the  mix,  too. 

lie  m 

THEME:  None 

IN  A  NUTSHELL:  UC  frosh  will 
take  in  a  Jays  game,  ven- 
ture to  Toronto  Island,  get 
hypnotized,  go  on  a  scav- 
enger hunt,  and,  on  Friday, 
participate  in  something 
called  "Shinerama." 


WHAT:  Faculty  of  Applied  Science  &  Engi- 
neering 

ESTABLISHED:  1873  as  the  'School  of 
Practical  Science,'  1906  as  the  'Faculty  of 
Applied  Science  &  Engineering' 
TRIVIA:  The  Toike  Oike  (the  U  of  T  Engineer- 
ing Society's  newspaper),  the  engineers' 
yell,  and  the  engineering  cannon  have  all 
been  around  since  before  World  War  I. 

"CAN'T  MISS"  ORIENTATION  EVENT: 

Skule's  "Blue  and  Gold  Bed  Races,"  Thurs- 
day, Sept.  7, 5  -  7  p.m,  King's  College  Circ. 
Why  you  should  go :  Pay  homage  to  the  ge- 
niuses who  thought  to  unite  a  bed,  wheels, 
and  velocity.  See  the  colleges  try  to  beat 
the  engineers  at  their  own  game. 


mrnmSI^  Medicine 
ESTABLISHED:  1843  as  a  school  of  medici) 
NOTABLE  ALUMNI:  Frederick  Banting 
Charles  Best,  famous  for  discovering  insulin  in 
1922. 

TRIVIA:  When  Banting  approached  the  Univer- 
sity hoping  to  conduct  his  research,  he  was  giv- 
en the  use  of  some  facilities  and  the  help  of  two 
summer  research  students.  They  flipped  a  coin 
to  decide  who  would  work  with  him,  and  Best 
won.  The  other  guy  was  supposed  to  take  over 
later  on,  but  they  both  agreed  that  Best  would 
keep  working  with  Banting.  Talk  about  chance. 
RANDOM  FACT:  Women  weren't  admitted  until 
1906. 


The  Varsity 


TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  5, 2006  11 


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12  TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  5, 2006 


VARSITY  A&E 


opinions@thevarsity.ca 


e 


etes 


d 


Hillside  keeps  on  tuning  in  without  selling  out 


Tabassum  Siddiqui 

SPECIAL  TO  THE  VARSITY 


Ah,  Guelph.  Whoever  would  have  thought  the 
granola  university  town  Torontonians  love 
to  mock  would  become  ground  zero  in  indie 
hipsterdom?  Well,  that's  exactly  what's  been 
quietly  happening  over  the  last  few  years  as 
the  word  about  Guelph's  Hillside  Festival  has 
spread  among  the  music-loving  masses.  Held 
on  idyllic  Guelph  Lake  Island  at  the  end  of  July, 
the  eco-conscious,  community-minded  three- 
day  event  puts  the  rest  of  the  corporate-logo- 
stained,  homogenous  pack  of  so-called  music 
'festivals'  to  shame. 

If  you  don't  know  the  drill  by  now,  here  'tis: 
good  food,  good  people,  good  music.  End  of  sto- 
ry. Well,  almost.  Even  though  it's  been  around 
for  23  years,  it  was  only  last  year  that  Hillside 
sold  out  all  three  days  for  the  first  time,  thanks 
largely  to  the  knockout  one-two  punch  of  buzz 
bands  Stars  and  Arcade  Fire  playing  back-to- 
back  on  the  mainstage  to  close  Saturday  night. 
Clearly  those  folks  told  their  friends,  because 
this  year  tickets  didn't  just  sell  out,  they  did  so 
in  a  matter  of  days. 

When  something  as  fiercely  beloved  as  Hill- 
side explodes  in  the  public  domain,  there's  the 
inevitable  backlash  and  outcry  that  goes  along 
with  it,  and  as  such  it  came  as  no  surprise  that 
some  wondered  whether  the  little  festival  that 
could  would  start  to  change  in  the  face  of  its 
newfound  popularity. 

The  reality  is  that  the  music  scene  (with  its 
current  focus  towards  Canadian  indie-rock  in 
particular)  has  finally  caught  up  with  Hillside, 
not  the  other  way  around.  This  year's  slate  of 
performers  was  as  eclectic  and  well  chosen  as 
always,  and  festival  organizers  seem  to  have 
found  ways  to  deal  with  some  of  the  problems 
that  arose  from  last  year's  unexpected  influx 
(litter,  security  issues,  crowd  control). 

So  do  yourself  a  favour  and  don't  sleep  on 
tickets  next  year — you  may  end  up  discovering 
The  Next  Big  Thing  well  in  advance  of  everyone 
else,  or  have  a  memorable  experience  revisiting 
an  old  favourite.  But  until  then,  here's  a  (selec- 
tive) look  at  Hillside  '06. 

SATURDAY,  July  29 

The  thing  about  Hillside  is  that  you  could  very 
well  see  12  straight  hours  of  music  (program- 
ming runs  from  11  a.m.  to  11  p.m.)  in  one  day 
and  hardly  take  in  a  single  dud.  Saturday  is 
usually  about  rolling  out  the  big  guns,  and  sure 
enough,  tearing  oneself  away  from  the  stages 
for  even  a  quick  bite  proved  difficult. 

Toronto  troubadour  Jason  Collett  set  the 
bar  high  early  on  with  a  typically  laid-back  but 
endlessly  infectious  set  that  showcased  both 
his  exceptional  songwriting  and  equally  fine 
backing  band,  Paso  Mino.  The  Barrie  quartet 
has  injected  a  welcome  '70s  AM  radio-slash- 
whiteboy  soul  vibe  into  Collett's  sound  over  the 
past  year,  as  evidenced  by  groovy  new  tunes 


"I'm  Not  Over  You"  and  "Out  of  Time."  Guest 
turns  by  Broken  Social  Scene  mate  Amy 
Millan  and  Collett's  14-year-old  son  Dillon  ce- 
mented the  joyful  all-in-the-family  mood. 

Putting  Millan,  the  Stars  songstress  whose 
solo  sound  is  a  lovely  hybrid  of  country,  folk, 
and  pop,  on  the  same  stage  shortly  afterwards 
was  a  smart  scheduling  move  that  saw  Paso 
Mino  doing  double-duty  as  her  band  (also 
augmented  by  fellow  Stars  member  Evan 
Cranley).  Some  have  been  underwhelmed  by 
Millan's  recent  Honey  From  the  Tombs  solo  al- 
bum because  it's  far  more  low-key  than  Stars' 
shimmering  bombast,  but  let's  face  it:  the 
woman  could  sing  the  phone  book  and  we'd 
all  listen.  From  the  near-perfect  melody  of  the 


poppy  "Skinny  Boy"  to  bluegrass  ballad  "Baby 
I,"  Millan's  angelic  croon  kept  all  the  indie  kids 
spellbound. 

If  there  was  one  man  who  stole  the  show  at 
Hillside  this  year,  that  honour  would  have  to 
go  to  Mr.  Owen  Pallett,  a.k.a.  one-man  violin 
band  Final  Fantasy.  Lending  his  bow  to  sev- 
eral workshops  over  the  course  of  the  weekend, 
his  own  set  was  among  the  best-attended  of  the 
festival — the  Island  Stage  tent  was  so  unbeliev- 
ably full  during  his  performance  that  volun- 
teers had  to  limit  entrance  after  a  certain  point. 
Looping  his  choir-boy  vocals  and  indelible 
violin  melodies  while  also  playing  the  harpsi- 
chord, Pallett's  virtuoso  turn  underscored  the 
one  sentiment  on  everyone's  lips:  Next  year. 


the  main  stage.  By  the  time  he  brought  up  ex- 
boyfriend  Gentleman  Reg  for  a  saucy  cover  of 
Mariah  Carey's  "Fantasy"  to  close  the  set,  there 
was  already  a  lineup  at  the  merch  tent  to  buy 
his  CD. 

SUNDAY,  July  30 

Alt-country  may  be  an  increasingly  tired  genre, 
but  Brooklyn  "countrypolitan"  collective  Hem 
bring  just  enough  of  an  edge  to  their  sweet 
songcraft  to  keep  it  interesting.  Pregnant  vocal- 
ist Sally  Ellyson's  striking  voice  (think  Sarah 
McLachlan  with  more  twang)  soared  over  the 
sparse  crowd  gathered  in  front  of  the  main- 
stage,  but  unfortunately  most  seemed  more  in- 
terested in  catching  a  snooze  in  the  blazing  sun 
than  paying  too  much  attention  to  the  group, 
who  were  making  their  first  Ontario  appear- 
ance. 

A  Hidden  Cameras  set  is  always  rife  with  hi- 
jinks,  but  the  self-proclaimed  "gay  folk  church 
music"  collective  appears  to  be  moving  away 
from  spectacle  for  spectacle's  sake  and  towards 
a  more  nuanced  approach  to  their  live  show. 
That's  not  to  say  all  the  eccentricity  and  frills 
aren't  still  there — a  dozen-plus  members  filled 
the  main  stage  and  the  band  handed  out  bright 
red  blindfolds  to  the  masses  of  eager  indie  kids 
(making  the  crowd  nearly  as  much  of  a  sight  to 
behold  as  the  action  on  stage).  But  frontman 
Joel  Gibb  seemed  to  sing  with  more  focus,  and 
the  music  seemed  to  matter  more  than  the  mad- 
ness. The  resulting  giddiness  brought  a  whole 
new  meaning  to  the  term  "glee  club." 

And  of  course,  what  festival  boasting  any 
sort  of  indie  cred  wouldn't  bring  it  all  home 
with  a  closing  set  by  everyone's  favourite  It  Girl 
Leslie  Feist?  The  tiny  powerhouse  unleashed 
her  soprano  on  the  adoring  audience,  run- 
ning the  gamut  from  flirty  and  bold  to  hushed 
and  earnest.  A  good  part  of  the  set  comprised 
charming  new  songs  from  a  forthcoming  new 
album  (look  for  a  likely  release  in  early  '07), 
many  played  on  acoustic  guitar  instead  of  her 
trademark  red  electric.  If  anything.  Feist's  rise 
to  fame  since  she  last  played  Hillside  seven  long 
years  ago  mirrors  the  festival's  own  growth: 
sometimes  the  best-kept  secrets  are  the  most 
precious  ones. 


PHOTOS  by  Tabassum  Siddiqui,  Yasmin  Siddiqui, 
and  Melodie  Kwan. 

1.  Blind  faith:  Hidden  Cameras  frontman  Joel 
Gibb 

2.  Starry  songcraft:  Amy  Millan  goes  solo 

3.  Feist-y  gal:  Leslie's  triumphant  return  to 
Hillside 

4.  Fantasy  island  (stage):  Owen  Pallett,  strings 
sensation 

5.  Khaela  of  The  Blow  gets  creative 


VARSITY  ARTS  &  ENTERTAINMENT 


^ea^  peek' 


A  look  under  the  covers  of  the  Toronto  International  Film  Festival 

Luke  Higginson,  Chandler  Levack,  Seth  Mendelson,  Radheyan  Simonpillai 


TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  5, 2006  13 


Keeping  it  real:  all  the  sex  in  Shortbus  h  as  unsettling  as  it  is  unsimulated 


review@thevarsity.ca 


K,  so  there  aren't  any 
snakes  on  any  planes,  but 
this  year's  Toronto  Inter- 
national Film  Festival  is 
loaded  with  its  fair  share  of  stars, 
hype,  and  controversy.  Here's  a 
sneak  preview  of  what  the  world 
renowned  festival  has  in  store. 

SHORTBUS 

Director:  John  Cameron  Mitchell 

John  Cameron  Mitchell's  Shortbus,  a 
tale  of  disparate  New  York  residents 
who  explore  and  then  cross  their 
sexual  boundaries,  isn't  so  much  a 
risque  art  house  flick  as  it  is  a  glori- 
fied porno  with  a  plot.  As  a  selection 
in  the  Festival's  new  Vanguard  pro- 
gramme— where  cultural,  sexual, 
and  cinematic  freedom  reigns  su- 
preme— the  grounds  for  Shortbus' 
inclusion  seem  to  be  that  it  is  the 
first  mainstream  film  to  feature  un- 
simulated sex — straight,  gay,  and 
everything  in  between.  However, 
this  edgy  breakthrough  is  hardly 
credible  considering  that  ubiqui- 
tous sex  is  the  film's  only  compelling 
contribution.  The  characters  merely 
provide  a  mildly  bemusing  laundry 
list  of  sexual  deficiencies — includ- 
ing a  sex  therapist  that  can't  come 
(played  by  CBC's  Sook-Yin  Lee)  and 
a  gay  man  who  will  only  play  pitcher, 
never  catcher.  Meanwhile,  the  nar- 
rative is  bent  on  exploring  extrane- 
ous sexual  positions — most  worthy 
of  Cirque  du  Soleil — more  than  the 
emotions  that  drive  the  lead  actors 
to  such  extremes.  So  while  Shortbus 
sports  rare  and  fragmented  mo- 
ments of  witty  social  commentary 
and  comic  relief  (to  stifle  the  ex- 
treme awkwardness  of  watching  a 
man  blow  himself),  it  only  succeeds 
in  alienating  an  audience  who  would 
rather  have  real  sex  in  private.  -RS 

Rating:  VWW 
VOLVER 

Director:  Pedro  Almodovar 

Volver,  Pedro  Almodovar's  latest 
film,  stars  Penelope  Cruz  as  a  young 
mother  who  is  forced  to  deal  with 
the  sudden  death  of  her  dead  beat 
husband.  The  film's  title  translates 
as  coming  back,  and  this  theme  is 
reinforced  throughout  the  piece. 
Whether  it's  regarding  close  friends, 
family,  or  dead  loved  ones,  char- 
acters in  this  film  re-form  strong 
bonds  in  unlikely  circumstances. 
If  you're  familiar  with  Almodovar's 
other  films,  don't  expect  anything 
new.  Murder,  drugs,  sex,  camp,  and 
bad  television  all  play  recurring 
roles  in  his  work. 

That's  not  to  say  that  they  don't 
succeed  in  this  new  dramatic  com- 
edy from  one  of  Spain's  leading  di- 
rectors. Here  Almodovar  tones  his 
style  down  and  makes  a  touchingly 
quiet  film  about  a  small  working- 
class  town  where  everyone  seems 
to  be  mourning  losses  and  harbour- 
ing secrets.  While  some  parts  may 
seem  aimless,  the  film  comes  to- 
gether quite  beautifully  in  the  end. 
Watch  it  for  Almodovar's  trademark 
blend  of  comedy  and  tragedy  and  a 
wonderful  scene  involving  a  ghost 
and  some  farts.  -SM 

Rating:  VWvV 


THE  SCIENCE  OF  SLEEP 

Director:  Michel  Gondry 

When  Stephane,  a  wannabe  graphic 
artist  who  has  trouble  separating  his 
dreams  from  reality,  meets  Stepha- 
nie, the  young  woman  living  across 
the  hallway  in  his  mother's  house, 
an  odd  and  surreal  courtship  begins 
to  unfold.  True  to  form,  Academy 
Award-winning  writer/director  Mi- 
chel Gondry  uses  his  visual  genius 
to  paint  Stephane's  dreams  with 
his  unique  aesthetic  and  animation 
style.  While  the  film  features  strong 
performances  full  of  genuinely  funny 
and  touching  moments,  Gondry,  as 
the  sole  writer,  tends  to  indulge  him- 
self too  much.  Following  in  the  foot- 
steps of  his  last  film.  Eternal  Sunshine 
of  the  Spotless  Mind,  this  film  revolves 
around  a  quirky  love  story  about 
two  people  who  are  perfect  for  each 
other,  but  too  fucked  up  to  actually 
make  it  work.  In  that  film,  realistic 
characters  work  well  because  they 
act  to  balance  the  absurd  scenarios, 
but  in  The  Science  of  Sleep  there's 
nothing  of  the  sort  to  provide  a  point 
of  reference.  Stephane's  character 
seems  to  go  from  being  sweet  and 
misunderstood  to  clinically  insane, 
and  then  back  again,  while  most  of 
the  situations  that  ultimately  keep 
Stephane  and  Stephanie  apart  don't 
really  make  sense.  In  the  end  The 
Science  of  Sleep  ends  up  being  both 
impressive  and  disappointing  at  the 
same  time.  Best  to  hit  snooze  on  this 
one,  and  wait  for  the  DVD.  -LH 

Rating:  VWW 
PAN'S  LABYRINTH 

Director:  Guillermo  del  Toro 

If  David  Cronenberg  had  adapted 
The  Chronicles  of  Narnia,  it  might 
have  been  something  like  director 
Guillermo  del  Toro's  darkly  imagina- 
tive and  poetically  rich  fable,  Pan's 
Labyrinth.  The  fairy  tale,  which  is  set 
against  the  backdrop  of  the  Spanish 
Civil  War,  follows  the  starry-eyed 


Ofelia  (Ivana  Baquero),  a  child  who 
discovers  that  the  world  of  the  fan- 
tastical can  be  just  as  horrific  as  that 
of  the  fascist  reality.  Ofelia  and  her 
pregnant  mother  are  relocated  to  a 
military  outpost  to  join  her  stern  and 
vile  stepfather,  Captain  Vidal  (played 
by  a  sinister  Sergi  Lopez).  Vidal  is  in 
charge  of  exterminating  any  threats 
of  rebellion  posed  by  the  working 
class — a  task  he  is  all  too  happy  to 
perform  with  progressively  more 
inventive  (and  toe  curling)  methods 
of  bodily  harm.  As  Ofelia  attempts  to 
avoid  the  attentions  of  her  tyranni- 
cal stepfather,  she  discovers  a  magi- 
cal subterranean  world  within  the 
grounds  of  a  garden  labyrinth.  How- 
ever, this  is  a  Narnia  where  the  fauns 
have  fangs  and  fairies  grimace  with 
nefarious  motives. 
Del  Toro's  multi-layered  film  shifts 
between  wartime  drama  and  a  child's 
fantasy  as  a  method  to  explore  the 
ideology  of  make-believe — how  the 
innocent  must  foster  illusion  for  a 
glint  of  hope  in  disturbing  times.  As 
Ofelia's  dreams  become  increasingly 
nightmareish,  it  becomes  apparent 
that  even  a  child's  imagination  isn't 
safe  under  the  shadows  of  a  fascist 
regime.  -RS 

Rating:  WWv 
INDIGENES  (DAYS  OF  GLORY) 

Director:  Rachib  Bouchareb 

Indigenes  begins  like  Glory  but  ends 
like  Saving  Private  Ryan,  and  sadly 
can't  make  up  its  mind  as  to  what  it 
wants  to  be  in  between.  The  story 
of  a  group  of  North  African  sol- 
diers who  battled  Nazis  in  World 
War  Two  on  the  behalf  of  their  co- 
lonial motherland,  France,  director 
Rachib  Bouchareb's  new  film  never 
achieves  its  ambitious  goals  due 
to  its  chaotic  and  incoherent  plot. 
While  examining  how  four  indistinct 
soldiers  confront  their  "indigenous" 
status  among  the  colonial  French 
troops,  the  film  takes  a  scattershot 
approach  by  rushing  into  battle  af- 


ter minimal  character  exposition, 
leaving  the  disoriented  audience  to 
figure  out  who's  who  in  the  interim. 
The  plot  points — all  built  on  ground 
already  occupied  by  previous  war 
flicks — occur  seemingly  at  random, 
while  the  characters  within  are  nei- 
ther distinguishable  nor  of  any  sub- 
stance. When  the  film  finally  pulls 
itself  together,  it's  too  late,  which  is 
a  shame  because  there  are  moments 
in  the  film  that  show  shards  of  a  tru- 
ly heart  felt  story.  Perhaps  the  great- 
est injustice  in  Indigenes  is  that  such 
strong  subject  matter  has  been  dealt 
with  so  weakly.  -RS 

Rating:  WWV 

CITIZEN  DUANE 

Director:  Michael  Mabbott 

Last  year,  in  an  interview  with  The 
Varsity,  director  Michael  Mabbott  ex- 
pressed some  concern  over  a  CityTV 
Award  he  received  at  TIFF  for  his 
first  feature  The  Life  and  Hard  Times 
of  Guy  Terrifico.  The  inscription  on 
the  prize  contained  a  quote  from 
former  CityTV  chief  Moses  Znaimer, 
"Sooner  or  later  we're  all  working 
for  television."  Znaimer  might  have 
been  a  prophet,  for  Mabbott 's  follow- 
up,  Citizen  Duane,  plays  like  a  bunch 
of  episodes  from  a  family  sitcom 
smashed  together  into  one  90-min- 
ute  stretch.  Duane  is  the  story  of  an 
idealistic  but  pig-headed  teenager, 
Duane  Balfour,  who  runs  for  mayor 
in  the  small  town  of  Ridgeburg  as  a 
last  stand  against  a  high  school  bully 
whose  grandmother  has  held  the  po- 
sition for  years.  An  underdog  com- 
edy with  moments  of  animated  sil- 
liness that  are  hit-and-miss,  and  an 
admirable  turn  for  young  Canadian 
actor  Douglas  Smith,  Citizen  Duane 
offers  mild  chuckles  that  may  only 
satisfy  an  audience  that  has  lacka- 
daisically tuned  in,  but  is  ultimately 
a  waste  of  precious  festival  time. 
Mabbott's  fears  of  television  damna- 
tion have  been  affirmed.  -RS 

Rating:  WWV 


MANUFACTURED  LANDSCAPES 

Director:  Jennifer  Baichwal 

Edward  Burtynsky  is  a  Canadian 
photographer  best  known  for  ex- 
tracting beautiful  artwork  from  un- 
likely quarries.  Under  Burtynsky's 
lens,  materials  like  the  recycled  "E- 
waste"  of  computer  parts  and  the 
inner  sanctum  of  a  construction  site 
become  multicolored  confections  of 
saturated  wires  and  brightly-lit  ca- 
bles. Filmmaker  Jennifer  Baichwal's 
documentary  never  gets  personal 
(Burtynsky  avoids  speaking  to  the 
camera),  remaining  coolly  distant 
from  its  subject  to  focus  in  on  the 
examination  of  landscapes  in  trans- 
formation. Filming  in  fluid  pans  and 
zooms  across  these  revamped  ar- 
eas, the  stunning  Super  16  cinema- 
tography almost  looks  like  a  mov- 
ing Burtynsky  photograph  itself. 
Industrial  Shanghai  is  the  focus,  as 
Burtynsky  captures  the  geography 
of  a  Third  World  country  with  First 
World  desires.  Instead  of  a  conven- 
tional examination  of  an  artist,  we 
see  the  excavated  topography  of 
the  world's  largest  dam,  the  super- 
sonic yellows  and  blues  of  a  factory 
line,  and  the  azure  liquid  inside 
a  hollowed  out  mine.  Baichwal's 
documentary  never  tells  you  what 
to  think,  but  lets  you  view  the  land- 
scapes of  a  new  industrial  age  and 
wonder  how  something  so  artificial 
can  look  so  beautiful.  -  CL 

Rating:  WVvV 
AWAY  FROM  HER 

Director:  Sarah  Polley 

Canadian  indie  film  darling  Sarah 
Polley  makes  her  feature  directorial 
debut  in  her  adaptation  of  the  Alice 
Monro  story  "The  Bear  Came  Over 
the  Mountain".  Julie  Christie  and 
Gordon  Pinsent  star  as  Fiona  and 
Grant,  a  happening  couple  married 
for  40  years  quietly  cohabitating  in 
a  modern  ski  lodge.  But  when  Fiona 
starts  to  exhibit  signs  of  early  onset 
Alzheimer's,  Grant  has  to  make  a 
choice  to  send  her  to  the  retirement 
home  Meadowlake  and  slowly  come 
to  terms  with  a  past  his  wife  can  no 
longer  recollect.  Polley's  film  does 
Monro  proud,  remaining  incredibly 
truthful  both  to  the  sensibilities  and 
feelings  that  the  story  provokes, 
filmed  in  snowy  landscapes  and  flu- 
orescent retirement  home  hallways. 
And  veteran  Julie  Christie  delivers 
a  watershed  performance  as  Fiona, 
slowly  losing  her  mind  with  grace, 
humor  and  honest  human  emotion. 
Sarah  Polley  has  always  been  an  in- 
fluential player  in  the  Canadian  film 
scene,  and  this  one  sets  the  stage 
for  her  to  save  it.  It's  a  mature  and 
clever  piece  of  work,  without  all  the 
usual  Canuck  self-consciousness. 
-CL 

Rating:  WWV 

The  Toronto  International  Film 
Festival  kicks  off  this  Thursday  at 
cinemas  across  the  city.  Be  sure  to 
check  out  more  festival  coverage  in 
our  next  issue. 


14  TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  5, 2006 


The  Varsity 


COME  AND  VISIT  THE 


IP 


WW 


Shopping  Concourse 


.  ^rvices 


Hart  House  Theatre  presents 


Music  by  Dan  Studney  -  lyrics  by  Kevin  Murphy 
Booli  by  Kevin  Murphy  a  Dan  Studney 
Directed  by  Eienna  Mosoff 

SEPT  15  -  30, 2006 


WWW.HARTHOUSETHEATRE.CA 


Meloche  Monnex  ^y^^ VARSITY 


NOW™la 


BOX  OFFICE 


'LIGHTING 


science@thevarsity.ca 


SCIENCE 


TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  5, 2006  15 


City  birds  stress  less 

Unlike  their  wild  cousins,  urban 
birds  have  been  found  to  have  a  re- 
duced response  to  stress  in  order 
to  cope  better  with  numerous  city 
strains  without  suffering  delete- 
rious chronic  effects.  Ornitholo- 
gists of  the  Max  Planck  Institue  in 
Germany  measured  blood  levels 
of  corticosterone,  the  stress  hor- 
mone in  birds,  after  standardized 
capturing  and  handling  stressor 
protocols  applied  during  the  birds' 
first  autumn,  winter,  and  spring. 
Both  urban  and  wild  birds  showed 
similar  hormonal  stress  response 
during  the  first  autumn,  but  the 
stress  response  was  distinctly 
lower  in  urban  birds  as  compared 
to  wild  birds  during  the  first  win- 
ter and  spring.  According  to  the  re- 
searchers, these  results  show  that 
city  life  leads  to  changes  in  physi- 
ological coping  mechanisms  that 
are  necessary  for  the  survival  of 
the  wild  animals  in  a  urban  dwell- 
ing. 

Source:  Ecology 
— MAYCEAL-SUKHNI 

Carbon  monoxide  may 
save  lives 

Women  who  smoke  during  preg- 
nancy have  a  reduced  chance 
of  developing  pre-eclampsia,  a 
pregnancy-related  disorder  usu- 
ally characterized  by  hypertension 
and  high  concentrations  of  protein 
in  urine.  The  disorder  is  character- 
ized by  a  failure  of  the  growing  fe- 
tus to  receive  adequate  amounts  of 
nutrients  due  to  oxidative  damage 
to  syncytiotrophoblast  cells  of  the 
placenta.  These  cells  are  essential 
to  development  as  they  provide  nu- 
trient transfer  from  the  mother  to 
the  fetus. 

In  a  study  conducted  by  scientists 
at  Queen's  University,  placental 
tissue  obtained  from  non-smoking 
women  were  subjected  to  oxida- 
tive stress,  resulting  in  syncytio- 
trophoblast cell  death.  In  compari- 
son, tissues  then  treated  with 
carbon  monoxide  (at  fevels  similar 
to  smoking  mothers)  were  found 
to  have  a  significant  decrease  of 
syncytiotrophoblast  cell  death. 
The  carbon  monoxide  treated  sam- 
ples also  showed  syncytiotropho- 
blasts  without  signs  of  cell  injury. 
Although  the  frequency  of  pre- 
eclampsia is  reduced  in  smoking 
mothers,  there  are  more  imminent 
problems  associated  with  smok- 
ing during  pregnancy,  such  as  low 
birth  weight  and  Sudden  Infant 
Death  Syndrome.  Nevertheless, 
carbon  monoxide  treatments  give 
promising  applications  for  organ 
transplantation,  which  are  threat- 
ened by  oxidative  stress. 
Source:  American  Journal  of 
Pathology 
—JENNIFER  HUEN 

New  dogs  but  old  tumour 

Scientists  at  University  College 
London  and  the  University  of  Chi- 
cago have  recently  discovered  that 
the  canine  transmissible  venereal 

SEE  'BRIEFS' -PG.  16 


A  pearl  in  Canada's  Arctic 

In  the  middle  of  the  summer  heat,  a  collection  of  scientists  dedicated  to  unraveling  environmental 
mysteries  came  together  to  open  an  Arctic  research  centre.  GLEN  FERNANDES  investigates 


A pearl,  born  naturally  or  ar- 
tificially, is  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  and  ingenious  en- 
tities inside  the  shell  of  an  oyster. 
Canada's  Arctic  region  houses  a 
pearl  that  is  about  to  enhance  hu- 
man understanding  and  research  to 
a  new  level. 

Canada's  PEARL  is  the  Polar  En- 
vironment Atmospheric  Research 
Laboratory,  which  opened  in  July 
and  was  designed  to  study  ozone, 
air  quality,  and  climate  change.  It  is 
run  by  a  dedicated  team  of  scientists 
from  eight  different  Canadian  uni- 
versities and  government  research 
laboratories  led  by  Professor  Jim 
Drummond  of  the  University  of  To- 
ronto and  Dalhousie  University. 

"The  environment  is  constantly 
changing,  and  since  the  influence 
of  mankind  on  the  environment  is 
becoming  larger  and  larger,  eternal 
vigilance  is  necessary  to  ensure 
that  we  do  not  suffer  from  unan- 
ticipated consequences,"  cautioned 
Drummond. 

Described  as  a  project  of  "infinite 
length  with  finite  stages,"  PEARL  is 
especially  important  to  Canada's 
research  community  since  the 
Arctic,  representing  a  large  part  of 
Canada's  total  landmass,  has  very 
few  locations  in  which  it  is  pos- 
sible to  study  the  atmosphere  and 
how  it  changes  over  long  periods  of 
time.  The  Arctic,  like  the  Antarctic, 
is  a  unique  region  because  of  its 
proximity  to  the  pole,  its  low  tem- 
peratures, and  the  rare  circulation 
patterns  that  allow  it  to  be  called  an 
extreme  atmosphere. 

"Within  this  atmosphere,  many 
things  happen  that  do  not  happen 
at  lower  latitudes,  but  which  influ- 
ence things  that  do  happen  at  lower 


PEARL,  top,  is  located  on  Ellesmere  Island,  Nunavut,  only  1,100  km  away  from  the  North 
Pole.  Eureka,  the  name  of  the  base,  has  a  permanent  population  of  zero  but  houses  a 
continuously  rotating  staff. 


latitudes,"  explained  Drummond. 
"Some  people  have  even  dubbed 
the  Arctic  as  the  'canary  of  the  cli- 
mate,' which  means  that  we  may  see 
things  happening  in  the  Arctic  be- 
fore they  occur  at  lower  latitudes, 
and  so  it  is  crucial  that  we  gain  a 
better  understanding  of  Arctic  cli- 
mate." 

The  project  over  the  next  five 
years  will  gather  data  on  the  cur- 
rent state  of  the  atmosphere  in 
the  Arctic  by  using  a  new  array  of 
equipment  such  as  radar,  radiom- 
eters, and  spectrometers  to  record 
the  composition,  temperature,  and 
various  other  atmospheric  factors 
in  the  Arctic. 

Certainly  one  of  the  most  complex 
projects  of  Drummond's  life,  the  ten 
funding  agencies,  eight  universities 
and  one  very  difficult  set  of  logistics 
present  a  unique  set  of  problems  for 
the  team.  The  main  issue  standing 
in  the  way  of  success  is  the  necessi- 
ty of  working  in  such  a  remote  area 
with  unaccountable  accidents. 

"PEARL  is  certainly  one  of  the 
most  challenging  and  complex  proj- 
ects that  we've  attempted  and  it 
has  taken  us  to  a  unique  part  of  the 
world  which  is  extremely  beautiful 
and  challenging  at  the  same  time," 
Drummond  said. 
PEARL  will  be  integral  in  the  In- 
I  ternational  Polar  Year  (IPY)  2007- 
i  2008,  a  24-month-long  event  where 
I  all  nations  with  an  interest  in  the 
^  polar  regions  are  encouraged  to 
s  intensify  their  research  efforts  and 
I  share  their  results  to  better  under- 
stand this  region.  PEARL  is  part  of 
Canada's  research  contribution  to 
IPY  and  will  be  instrumental  in  pro- 
pelling Canada  to  the  forefront  of 
atmospheric  research. 


Rewire  launched  to 
reduce  energy  use 


Sandy  Huen 

SCIENCE  EDITOR 


The  start  of  the  academic  year  for  U  of  T's 
Sustainability  Office  means  the  launch  of  a 
community-based  social  marketing  initiative 
in  seven  residences,  one  office,  and  the  Uni- 
versity of  Toronto  at  Mississauga,  with  the  goal 
of  reducing  energy  consumption  by  five  to  ten 
per  cent. 

The  program,  called  Rewire,  is  only  a  small 
part  of  what  the  Sustainability  Office  is  doing 
to  reduce  energy  consumption  on  campus. 

"What  community-based  social  marketing 
does  is  looks  at  why  people  might  not  want  to 
change  their  behaviours  and  tries  to  address 
those  issues,"  said  Chris  Caners,  coordinator 
of  the  Sustainability  Office.  The  Rewire  project 
was  piloted  in  February  successfully  and  will 
reach  over  4,000  people  in  this  launch,  which 
is  set  for  October. 

"It's  a  sophisticated  ad  campaign.  It's  a  so- 
phisticated information  campaign.  It's  a  so- 
phisticated look  at  what  barriers  are  to  reduc- 
ing energy  consumption,"  said  Caners.  Using 
toolkits  and  focus  groups,  the  program  com- 
bines research  and  advertising  to  change  the 


way  people  think  about  energy. 

How  these  energy  reductions  translate  into 
reduced  emissions  is  another  challenge  the 
office  is  tackling.  Already,  the  university  saves 
3,100  tonnes  of  greenhouse  gas  emissions 
through  the  retrofit  of  lighting  and  chillers  in 
buildings  and  libraries,  equivalent  to  removing 
600  cars  from  the  road. 

"The  office  hasn't  been  around  that  long,  but 
we're  starting  to  measure  those  things  and  to 
be  able  to  monitor  those  certain  things,"  said 
Caners.  Inventories  for  waste  production, 
transportation  emissions,  and  greenhouse  gas 
reductions  are  a  key  goal  of  the  office. 

New  initiatives  like  running  grounds  vehi- 
cles on  biodiesel  and  the  possibility  of  a  cam- 
pus wind  turbine  are  only  a  few  of  the  ideas 
the  students  at  the  Sustainability  Office  are 
currently  researching.  Even  small  steps  like  in- 
stalling motion  sensitive  lighting  are  important 
building  blocks  to  making  the  university  more 
energy  efficient. 

"What  we  try  and  do  is  take  the  best  technol- 
ogies and  ideas  and  programs  and  implement 
them  here,  and  certainly  do  research  on  that," 
said  Caners.  "We  try  to  bridge  the  gap  between 
research  and  operations." 


A  Rewire  sign  above  a  light  switch  aims  to  change  the  way  resi- 
dents of  Whitney  Hall  think  and  act  about  energy  consumption. 


16  TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  5, 2006 


VARSITY  SCIENCE 


science@thevarsity.ca 


•BRIEFS' -CONTINUED  FROM  PG  15 


tumour  (CTVT)  is  between  250  and 
2,500  years  old,  a  finding  that  links 
the  cancer  to  an  ancestral  cancer 
in  wolves.  Dogs  can  transmit  CTVT 
to  other  dogs  through  copulation, 
licking,  biting,  and  smelling.  Un- 
like other  cancers  that  develop 
over  time,  CTVT  is  spread  by  the 
transmission  of  tumour  cells  them- 
selves. By  collecting  tumour  sam- 
ples from  various  dog  breeds  inter- 
nationally, researchers  found  that 
all  the  tumours  shared  the  same 
genetic  marker  that  were  absent  in 
each  breed's  non-cancerous  cells. 
Further  analysis  showed  that  the 
DNA  sequence  between  all  the  tu- 
mours were  identical  but  unique 
from  the  non-cancerous  canine 
cells,  regardless  of  how  distinct 
the  dogs  were  from  each  other. 
After  conducting  computational 
studies,  the  researchers  believe 
that  these  tumour  cells  originated 
from  wolves  at  least  two  centuries 
ago  and  were  then  "passed  down" 
to  present-day  breeds  of  dogs. 
Source:  Cell 
— J.H. 


It's  a  dirty  job. 


Scientists  have  developed  a  way 
to  make  laundry  detergents  even 
more  powerful  at  removing  stains. 
Enzymes  are  included  in  deter- 
gents to  help  target  protein-based 
stains  in  laundry.  However,  these 
enzymes  often  are  susceptible  to 
clumping  and  inactivation  by  air 
and  moisture,  as  well  as  other  de- 
tergent ingredients.  To  keep  the 
enzymes  active  for  as  long  as  pos- 
sible, scientists  have  designed  sili- 
ca gel  beads  that  encapsulate  the 
enzymes  and  protect  them  from 
inactivation.  The  coating  remains 
intact  until  conditions  are  right 
in  the  washing  machine,  at  which 
point  the  enzymes  are  released  to 
act  on  the  dirty  laundry. 
Source:  Chemistry  of  Materials 
— M.A. 


//THE  SCIENCE  OF  FROSH 


Building  your  beer  belly 

Sometimes  known  as  "Freshman  15,"  the  cautionary, 
but  probably  true  tale  of  the  fatty  pounds  of  first-year 
life  seems  to  be  losing  steam.  Generally  believed  to  be 
caused  by  over-indulgence  in  alcohol,  fast  food,  and 
late-night  partying,  the  key  weapon  in  fighting  the 
mighty  15  seems  to  be  by  knowing  your  enemy.  What 
causes  the  notorious  Frosh  15,  according  to  first-years? 
Stress,  beer,  all-you-can-eat  cafeterias,  and  "those  re- 
ally good  Sodexho  cookies"  were  popular  answers. 
Most  frosh  didn't  seem  worried  about  falling  prey  to 
unhealthy  habits,  including  one  student  who  suggested 
that  she  might  even  shed  some  pounds.  What  will  they 
have  to  say  after  a  year  of  greasy  cafeteria  food,  late 
night  study  sessions,  and  immeasurable  quantities  of 
beer? 

Acquainting  yourself  with  alcohol 

The  crux  of  many  a  university  existence  is  the  gratu- 
itous ingestion  of  alcohol.  Although  most  of  the  frosh 
didn't  look  a  day  over  18,  many  proudly  admitted  to  be 
fond  of  alcohol,  including  one  student  who  said  that  he 
is  "really  looking  forward  to  the  nights  of  binge  drink- 
ing." On  the  topic  of  the  best  kinds  of  inebriation,  one 
Trinity  frosh  said  that  "vodka-drunk  is  damn  funny," 
while  others  insisted  rum  was  their  drink  of  choice. 
Scientific  studies,  however,  have  favoured  clearer  li- 
quors like  vodka  as  they  give  a  less  severe  hangover 
than  more  impure  alcohols  like  brandy  and  rum.  This 
year's  frosh  had  a  strange,  if  not  creative,  assortment 
of  personal  tried-and-true  hangover  remedies.  These 
included  potato  chips,  bananas,  Raisin  Bran,  Cheerios 
sans  milk,  and  "anything  especially  greasy."  The  resi- 
dence dons,  of  course,  generally  forbade  reckless  alco- 
holism and  advised  lots  of  water  before  bed  and  the 
morning  after. 


Sleeping  it  off 


Burning  the  midnight  oil  soon  becomes  an  unpleasant 
reality  for  the  majority  of  university  students.  Most  of 
the  frosh  claimed  to  be  already  acquainted  with  sleep- 
less nights,  and  offered  these  suggestions  for  dealing 
with  the  increased  workload,  time  constraints,  and  ex- 
cess partying:  scheduling  15  minute  power  naps,  plan- 
ning ahead,  simply  sleeping  less,  and  of  course,  any  and 
every  kind  of  caffeine.  One  student  stubbornly  insisted 
that  he  will  not  lose  much  sleep  as  he  plans  to  complete 
his  assignments  and  study  for  tests  "the  morning  of." 

Method  behind  the  madness 

When  it  comes  to  laying  out  the  welcome  mats,  no 
one  does  it  better  than  the  engineers  who  ceremoni- 
ously dunk,  dip,  and  splatter  their  frosh  with  purple 
paint  before  classes  start.  Fortunately  (or  perhaps,  un- 
fortunately) this  purple  dye  is  not  carcinogenic,  as  is  ru- 
moured. The  dye  is  gentian  violet,  an  anti-fungal  agent 
that  is  commonly  used  to  treat  athlete's  foot  and  yeast 
infections.  Frosh  from  other  faculties  unanimously  de- 
clared they  would  never  allow  themselves  to  be  dyed 
purple,  their  reasons  ranging  from  not  liking  the  colour 
to  "We're  not  retarded."  One  student  went  so  far  as  to 
say,  "Thank  God  we're  not  engineers!"  Well,  what's  a 
little  purple  paint  if  it'll  cure  athlete's  foot? 

— MAYCE  AL-SUKHNI  &  SANDY  HUEN 


In  the  University  College  quad  with  a  horde  of  first-years,  top,  frosh  leaders  are  quick  to 
dance  off  the  pounds  while  the  frosh  loiter  around,  unconcerned.  On  the  bottom,  the  process 
of  getting  purple  for  Skule  frosh  is  a  tradition  these  engineers  have  etched  on  their  bodies 
for  at  least  a  month. 


AIDS  research  offers  novel  approaches 


Sabeen  Abbas 


Each  year,  more  than  four  million 
people  become  infected  by  the  Hu- 
man Immunodeficiency  Virus  (HIV), 
one  of  the  many  problems  tackled 
by  the  24,000  delegates  at  the  XVI 
International  Aids  Conference  held 
August  in  Toronto. 

A  report  released  by  the  Global 
HIV  Prevention  Working  Group  dur- 
ing the  conference  highlighted  sev- 
eral approaches  to  HIV  prevention 
currently  being  tested. 

Observational  reports  showed 
that  circumcised  men  are  less  likely 
to  become  infected  by  a  female  part- 
ner. A  study  by  Dr.  J.O.  Lloyd-Smith 
from  Penn  State  University's  Centre 
of  Infectious  Disease  Dynamics  used 
a  mathematical  model  to  predict  the 


potential  impact  of  male  circumci- 
sion (MC)  on  the  AIDS  epidemic 
in  Africa.  They  concluded  that  MC 
could  avert  on  average  two  million 
new  HIV  infections,  particularly  in 
southern  Africa  where  MC  is  uncom- 
mon and  HIV  is  prevalent. 

Another  prevention  strategy,  pre- 
exposure prophylaxis  or  PREP,  in- 
volves giving  HIV-negative  people 
(those  not  infected)  antiretroviral 
drugs.  Traditionally,  antiretroviral 
drugs  are  used  to  treat  HIV  infec- 
tions. Though  activists  protested 
the  use  of  the  PREP  at  the  XV  Inter- 
national AIDS  Conference,  sites  in 
Thailand,  Botswana,  and  Peru  are 
testing  the  drug  tenofovir  for  its  ef- 
ficacy. 

Presented  as  a  promising  ap- 
proach, microbicides  are  geared 


for  topical  usage,  in  gels  or  creams, 
which  are  applied  to  the  vagina  or 
rectum.  They  may  reduce  transmis- 
sion of  HIV  by  up  to  60  per  cent. 
Some  microbicides  work  to  enhance 
the  vagina's  natural  acidity  and  pre- 
vent transmission.  Others  include 
surfactants  that  break  up  mem- 
branes, like  the  viral  envelope,  to 
disable  the  virus  and  prevent  infec- 
tion. Five  microbicides  are  current- 
ly being  tested  with  several  more  in 
earlier  phases  of  clinical  trials. 

While  five  years  is  the  soonest 
prediction  for  approved  microbi- 
cide  use,  most  experts  predict  that 
it  will  be  more  than  ten  years  before 
a  fully  effective  HIV  vaccine  will  ex- 
ist. Currently,  30  HIV  vaccine  can- 
didates are  in  the  product  pipeline. 
The  'subunit'  approach  to  vaccines. 


favoured  in  HIV  research,  introduc- 
es a  fragment  of  an  inactivated  or 
weakened  virus  to  elicit  an  immune 
response. 

Other  prevention  strategies  in- 
clude use  of  cervical  barriers,  such 
as  the  diaphragm,  and  suppression 
of  herpes  infection,  which  triples 
risk  of  HIV  infection. 

A  multi-institutional  research  con- 
sortium, the  Elite  Controller  Collab- 
orative Study,  will  study  natural  HIV 
suppression  by  the  human  immune 
system.  Dr.  Bruce  Walker,  director 
of  Partner  AIDS  Research  Centre 
at  Massachusetts  General  Hospital 
described  "elite  controllers"  as  peo- 
ple infected  with  HIV  who  are  able 
to  suppress  the  virus  without  any 
medication,  remaining  healthy  and 
symptom-free. 


Researchers  estimate  that  one  in 
300  people  infected  with  HIV  are 
able  to  suppress  the  virus  naturally, 
keeping  the  number  of  virus  copies 
in  the  body  low  enough  to  be  with- 
out symptoms.  The  goal  of  the  con- 
sortium is  to  identify  and  explain 
the  mechanism  that  controls  viral 
replication.  A  vaccine  built  on  this 
premise  may  not  prevent  infection, 
but  may  suppress  viral  replication 
and  be  useful  in  AIDS  treatment. 

Since  the  pandemic  began  25 
years  ago,  advances  in  treatment 
have  improved  patient  life  quality. 
Pill  dosage  has  been  reduced  from 
ten  pills  a  day  ten  years  ago  to  just 
one  today.  Until  a  truly  effective  HIV 
vaccine  exists,  the  best  treatment 
lies  in  the  prevention  of  infection. 


The  Varsity 


TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  5, 2006  17 


-VIC- REACH- 

STUDENT  VOLUNTEER  PROGRAM 

An  academic  outreach  program  staffed  by  Victoria  College  students  for  disadvantaged  students  in  primary  and  middle 
schools  in  the  Metropolitan  Toronto  region. 

•  Student  volunteers  will  be  providing  up  to  3  hours  per  week  of  tutoring  and  assistance  during  the  academic  year. 

•  Every  student  of  Victoria  College  is  eligible  to  participate. 

•  Each  student  volunteer  fulfilling  the  requirements  of  Vic-Reach  will  receive  a  formal  certificate  from  the  College 
recognizing  his/her  participation  in  the  program. 

Introductory  Meeting 
Date:  Thursday,  September  14,  2006 
at  6  p.m.  in  the  Senior  Common  Room,  Burwash  Hall 

VICTORIA  COLLEGE 

Students  who  are  unable  to  attend  may  call  416-585-4497  for  further  information  or  send  this  form  to  Victoria  College, 

Office  of  the  Principal,  Old  Vic  building,  VC  104 
Toronto,  Ontario  M5S  1K7. 


Name  

Address  

Telephone  number  

Year  Subject  fields  of  interest. 

E-mail  address  


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containing  brochures  and 
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18  TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  5, 2006 


VARSITY  SPORTS 


sports@thevarsity.ca 


Past  not  a  concern  for  football's  future 


Perry  King 

ASSOCIATE  SPORTS  EDITOR 


As  the  U  of  T  football  team  finished  up 
training  camp,  they  were  not  obsessed 
over  a  statistic  that  has  followed  them 
for  five  years.  Now,  this  young  nucleus 
of  football  players  intends  to  play  the 
game  from  kickoff  to  whistle,  and  are 
adamantly  keeping  out  of  their  mind 
the  fact  that  they  have  not  tallied  a 
win  since  November  2001. 

"At  this  point  we're  not  even  think- 
ing about  it,  it's  the  farthest  thing  from 
our  minds  and  we  are  not  interested 
in  listening  to  the  critics,"  said  Head 
Coach  Steve  Howlett. 

"There  have  been  comments  made 
by  some  of  our  players  in  the  players' 
room  that  set  out  our  mission:  to  win 
one  for  guys  like  John  Gilson,  for  guys 
who  have  played  with  us  for  years.  We 
are  positively  focused  and  ready  to 
fight  for  every  play  this  season." 

Graduation  was  kind  to  the  Blues  (0- 
1),  as  eight  of  their  offensive  weapons 
have  returned.  Leading  the  way  will 
be  the  Blues'  quarterbacking  corps, 
Mark  Stinson  and  Dave  Hamilton. 

"There  was  a  huge  turnover  in  our 
youth  on  the  team  and  we  believe  in 
the  natural  evolution  of  our  players," 
Howlett  said.  "It  is  great  to  see  the 
same  guys  that  have  been  here  for 
years." 

Howlett  intends  to  start  Hamilton 
for  the  majority  of  the  season.  Stin- 
son's  role  on  the  team  will  be  an  in- 
teresting one,  taking  on  similarities  to 
that  of  Kordell  "Slash"  Stewart  and  his 
role  on  the  Super  Bowl  representative 
Pittsburgh  Steelers  in  .1996.  Stinson 
totaled  213  yards  on  the  ground  last 
season. 

"Mark  [Stinson]  is  a  very  good  ath- 
lete and  he  should  be  seeing  play  in 
a  slotback  position,"  Howlett  said. 
"What  we  want  to  do  was  have  Mark 
slide  over  into  an  ace  back  formation 
and  become  more  active  as  a  receiver 
Both  of  our  guys  are  great  quarter- 
backs who  make  great  decisions,  and 
they  do  bring  a  lot  of  diversity  to  the 
quarterback  position.  But  with  this 
approach,  we  can  take  advantage  of 
both  of  their  abilities." 


Halfback  Marc  Gaudett,  right,  sprints  through  a  gaping  hole  thanks  to  the  Blues'  offensive  line  in  last  year's  lost  to  Western  Ontario. 
Gaudett  ran  for  882  yards  last  season,  the  fourth  best  total  in  the  OUA. 


The  decision  to  do  this  came  natu- 
rally to  Howlett  and  Dan  Crifo,  Offen- 
sive Coordinator,  and  Offensive  Line 
Coach  for  the  Blues.  Having  Stinson  in 
on  more  plays  in  this  environment  in- 
vites more  diversity  in  offensive  plays 
like  boots,  counters,  and  draw  plays — 
possibly  making  play  action  boots 
more  effective  for  the  pass  game. 

"We  always  had  it  in  mind  to  have 


a  proper  50-50  of  run  and  pass  plays. 
Doing  this  will  definitely  take  some 
pressure  off  of  Marc." 

Back  for  his  third  campaign.  Marc 
Gaudett  returns  to  the  halfback  posi- 
tion, headlining  the  OUA's  eighth  most 
potent  offense,  averaging  about  344 
yards  a  game.  Gaudett's  882  yards  put 
him  fourth  in  the  OUA  last  season,  a 
number  that  may  increase  if  the  offen- 


sive line,  led  by  emotional  leader  John 
Gilson,  continues  to  strengthen.  Tony 
Mammoliti,  Cory  Kennedy,  Jeff  La- 
Forge  and  Ken  Mazurek  all  return  this 
season  as  Hamilton's  prime  receiving 
weapons. 

The  defense  was  where  the  most  is- 
sues had  to  be  addressed,  and  Howlett 
and  his  staff  have  made  strides  here. 
Joe  Rumolo,  a  longtime  assistant  with 


the  team,  has  been  brought  in  to  co- 
ordinate the  defense  and  infuse  a 
more  effective  approach  to  stopping 
opponents.  Rumolo's  experience  with 
defensive  line  development  is  one  that 
Howlett  admires,  as  the  Blues  run  de- 
fense was  a  serious  issue.  The  Blues 
had  allowed  over  600  yards  of  total 
offense  a  game  last  season,  and  about 
263  of  those  yards  from  the  run. 

The  recruiting  season  for  Howlett 
and  Greg  Delaval,  the  Blues  Coordi- 
nator of  Player  Development,  was  a 
rewarding  one.  The  Blues  found  some 
depth  in  a  few  positions,  and  ensured 
some  solidity  once  the  offensive  and 
defensive  families  graduate.  Mead- 
owvale  Secondary  School's  Derek 
Batchelor  has  impressed  the  staff  as  a 
defensive  back,  and  Port  Perry's  Tyler 
Daly  has  become  promising  as  an  un- 
derstudy to  Gaudett. 

The  majority  of  the  youth  infusion 
has  come  on  the  side  of  the  defense. 
Rumolo's  scheme  and  execution  is 
intended  to  be  much  more  aggressive 
and  unpredictable  for  his  players,  as 
blitz  and  aggressive  zone  packages 
are  expected  to  be  more  exercised  in 
the  playbook. 

"One  of  the  biggest  things  that  we 
want  to  see  from  our  team  is  continued 
improvement  in  all  aspects,"  Howlett 
said.  "We  want  a  more  aggressive  de- 
fense and  more  consistency  from  our 
offense." 

Saturday,  the  team  will  travel  to 
Windsor  to  face  off  against  the  Lanc- 
ers (1-0),  who  defeated  Waterloo 
yesterday  42-2.  The  Blues'  season 
opened  yesterday  against  Queen's 
University,  as  the  Golden  Gaels  rout- 
ed U  of  T  53-7. 

The  Blues  had  been  conducting 
training  camp  at  UTSC  over  the  sum- 
mer, and  will  be  staying  in  Scarbor- 
ough at  Birchmount  Stadium  for  their 
home  games  due  to  the  continued 
construction  of  the  new  Varsity  Stadi- 
um during  the  fall.  There  will  only  be 
three  home  games  this  season  for  the 
team,  with  the  opener  at  Birchmount 
September  16  against  Waterloo  Uni- 
versity. The  Blues  will  have  to  be  road 
warriors  for  most  of  the  season,  but 
they  like  the  challenge. 


Soccer's  success  keeps  goals  high 


Glen  Fernandes  

A  domineering  triumph,  the  men's 
soccer  team  (2-0)  aims  to  continue 
with  the  success  that  has  had  them 
ranked  in  the  top  ten  in  the  country 
over  the  past  decade.  With  their 
reputation  cemented  as  one  of  the 
best  teams  in  the  nation,  the  team's 
goals  for  the  upcoming  year  are  to 
pick  up  where  they  left  off:  on  the 
cusp  of  completing  the  triple  crown 
of  Canadian  collegiate  soccer. 

Bittersweet  success 

Last  year  under  Carmine  Issaco's 
first  season  as  head  coach,  the  team 
nearly  pulled  off  winning  the  league, 
provincial,  and  national  titles.  The 
Blues  compiled  a  7-1-2  record  dur- 
ing the  Ontario  University  Athletics 
regular  season,  winning  the  league's 
East  division  title.  But  the  Blues  fin- 
ished with  silver  medals  in  the  OUA 
tournament,  as  Carleton  defeated 
the  Blues  2-0  in  the  finals  for  the  sec- 
ond straight  season,  and  in  the  Ca- 


nadian Interuniversity  Sport  cham- 
pionships the  University  of  British 
Columbia  dispatched  the  Blues  2-1. 

Assistant  Coach  Hieu  Quach  be- 
lieves the  Blues  have  the  potential 
to  be  the  best  team  in  the  country, 
provided  that  the  team  takes  care  of 
the  proper  preparations. 

"For  every  roll  of  the  ball,  we  must 
out-compete  our  opponents,"  he 
said.  "Working  hard  while  training 
for  every  phase  of  the  game  offen- 
sively, defensively,  and  in  transition 
translates  on  the  field.  Taking  care 
of  the  little  things,  such  as  being 
technically  sharp  in  training,  will 
carry  over  to  the  matches." 

Defensive  core  returns 

Looked  upon  again  to  lead  the 
team  are  an  impressive  core  group 
of  returning  veterans,  who  enter  this 
season  with  the  experience  gleaned 
from  last  year's  postseason  runs  in 
the  OUA  and  CIS  tournaments. 

The  strength  of  the  previous 
season  was  a  defense  that  allowed 


four  goals  in  league  play.  The  team 
returns  three  strong  back  anchors, 
headed  by  Eric  Tse,  the  2005  OUA 
MVP  and  CIS  All-Canadian.  Join- 
ing Tse  are  left  back  Alen  Keri,  a 
fearless  tackier  who  possesses  a 
strong  ability  to  win  balls  in  the  air, 
and  goalkeeper  Luciano  Lombardi, 
whose  outstanding  play  led  the  OUA 
in  shutouts  and  goals  against  aver- 
age. 

In  the  midfield,  Joe  Rini's  leader- 
ship was  the  heart  and  soul  of  the 
Blues  and  will  be  looked  upon  to 
continue  his  strong  defensive  stops 
and  distribution  skills.  On  the  offen- 
sive side  of  the  ball,  Mike  Bialy's  ex- 
cellent control  and  vision  make  him 
a  scoring  threat  on  every  offensive 
attack.  Coupled  with  Evan  Milward, 
one  of  the  top  scorers  in  the  CIS  last 
year,  the  duo  possesses  excellent 
strength,  speed,  and  lethal  finishing 
around  the  goal. 

Yet  with  all  the  returning  prowess 
of  the  Blues,  the  weaknesses  of  the 
team  lie  in  the  recovery  of  players 


nursing  injuries  from  Summer  Club 
play,  and  the  key  departures  of 
George  Davis,  Sean  Myers,  and  Kyle 
Hall.  Davis  was  an  inspirational  cap- 
tain who  provided  integral  leader- 
ship along  with  offensive  and  defen- 
sive balance  in  the  midfield.  Myers, 
a  2004  CIS  All-Canadian,  scored  cru- 
cial game-winning  goals  throughout 
his  five  years  on  the  team.  Hall's  out- 
standing pace  down  the  flanks  will 
be  missed  as  he  accepted  a  soccer 
scholarship  to  Syracuse  University. 

The  recruiting  class  of  the  Blues 
offers  new  talent  for  the  future  of 
Blues  Soccer.  Incoming  freshmen 
include  Alexander  Riga,  a  2005  Gold 
Medalist  from  the  Ontario  Canada 
Games  squad  whose  vision  on  the 
pitch  is  lauded.  Joining  Riga  are  Mi- 
chael Braithwaite,  an  athletic  and 
pacey  defender/midfielder  with 
great  versatility,  James  Katsuras, 
a  creative  and  offensively  gifted 
center  midfielder,  and  Alexander 
Raphael,  known  for  his  skillful  and 
agile  forward  play. 


Season  kick-off 

This  weekend  the  Blues  plan  to  con- 
tinue their  winning  ways  as  they  face 
Laurentian  Saturday  and  Nipissing 
Sunday.  U  of  T  kicked  off  their  season 
this  past  weekend,  defeating  Ryerson 
1-0  Saturday,  and  Trent  2-1  Sunday, 
and  currently  lead  the  OUA  East  Divi- 
sion with  six  points. 

The  team  began  its  preparation  for 
the  upcoming  year  by  participating  in 
the  pre-season  Old  Four  Soccer  Tour- 
nament over  August  26  and  27.  The 
first  game  against  Western  led  to  a 
scoreless  tie  in  regulation  followed  by 
a  loss  in  a  penalty  shootout.  The  next 
game  against  McGill  led  to  a  2-0  loss. 

"We  did  not  get  the  results,  but  a  lot 
of  questions  were  answered  in  terms 
of  personnel  and  proper  positions," 
Quach  said.  "We  were  looking  for  a 
forward,  a  playmaker  and  a  right  back 
to  replace  Myers,  Davis,  and  Vancou- 
ver native  Josh  Gordon.  The  tourna- 
ment gave  us  an  opportunity  to  test 
new  players  at  those  positions." 


The  Varsity 


TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  5,  2006  19 


CLASSIFIEDS 


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RESEARCH  VOLUNTEERS  NEEDED 

Healthy  male  research  volunteers,  on  no 
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Age  over  20  years  and  overweight.  Vol- 
unteers will  be  reimbursed  $600.00  upon 
completion  of  the  study  if  interested  call 
the  research  coordinator  at  416-340-4800 
ext.  8886, 

RECEPTIONIST  FOR  BUSY  DENTAL 
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call  416-535-4295. 


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416-303-3106. 


VARSITY 


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Varsity  Classifieds  cost  $12.00  for  25  words.  ($10.00  each  for  6  or  more  ads.)  Student  rate:  $10.00  for  non-business 
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hundreds  of  casual  positions,  including  Work  Study,  that  are 
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For  additional  information,  please  call  the  Centre  for 
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VARSITY  BLUES  ROWING 


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20  TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  5, 2006 


VARSITY  COMICS 


editor@thevarsity.ca 


DOWNTOWN  TORONTO  By  Jason  Kieffer 


THE  GREATEST  COMIC  STRIP  IN  THE  WORLD  By  Daniel  Kael 


H  YEAK  ftGO 


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HIGH  SCHOOC  m  BE  CN*  PHO 

we  rvx  HPive  DwFTCD  etm-\ 
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MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  11, 2006 


SITY 


^  UNIVERSITY  OF  TORONTO'S  STUDENT  NEWSPAPE 


Construction 
chaos 

How  to  beat  the  rush  on 
St.  George  Street  -  p.  5 


iViUi^UAif5  6(  iHUKSDAYS 
www.thevars(ty.ca  % 


VOL.  CXXVil,  Wki 


hillin'  with 
illian 

complete  film 
ival  coverage  -  p.  9 


Radical  group  source  of  SAC  pro-life  tracts 


Mike  Ghenu 

NEWS  EDITOR 


A  brochure  that  a  U  of  T  pro-life  stu- 
dent club  tried  to  have  inserted  into 
SAC  frosh  itits  was  actually  promo- 
tional material  provided  to  them  by 
an  anti-abortion  advocacy  organiza- 
tion. The  Varsity  has  learned. 

In  an  article  that  appeared  last 
week  in  The  Catholic  Register,  the 
University  of  Toronto  Students  for 
Life  (UTSFL)  alleged  that  the  Stu- 
dent Administrative  Council  (SAC) 
had  discriminated  against  it  by  not 
allowing  them  to  have  their  materi- 
als— a  pamphlet  produced  by  the 
group  and  a  brochure  with  "abor- 
tion facts" — inserted. 

In  an  interview,  UTSFL  president 
Kathrin  Matusiak  said  that  the 
group  delivered  6,500  copies  of  the 
materials  to  SAC  on  Friday,  Aug.  18, 
with  the  understanding  they  would 
be  placed  in  orientation  kits. 

"Come  Monday,  when  our  volun- 


teers arrived  to  help  stuff  the  kits, 
SAC  told  them  that  they  were  denied 
permission,  because  management 
had  told  them  they  were  not  allowed 
to  stuff  them,"  Matusiak  said. 

"At  best,  I  think  this  was  some  sort 
of  misunderstanding  between  senior 
representatives  and  junior  represen- 
tatives [at  SAC]  in  relaying  informa- 
tion between  them  and  us.  At  worst, 
1  hate  to  say  a  discriminatory  act, 
but  it  shows  that  there  was  a  lack  of 
any  type  of  official  meeting." 

A  faxed  copy  of  the  fact  brochure 
obtained  by  The  Varsity  contained 
a  hand-written  tear-away  sticker 
with  information  about  UTSFL  on 
one  side.  But  an  electronic  copy  of 
that  same  brochure,  subsequently 
obtained  from  UTSFL,  instead  had  a 
mailing  label  soliciting  donations  for 
Alliance  for  Life  Ontario,  a  Guelph- 
based  pro-life  advocacy  group,  in 
the  spot  where  the  UTSFL  sticker 

SEE  PRO-LIFE' -PG  3 


U  of  T  reaches  out 


Mike  Ghenu  &  Amy  Smithers 

VARSITY  STAFF 


On  Saturday,  students  and  staff  were 
everywhere  downtown,  braving  the 
rain  to  solicit  donations  on  street  cor- 
ners, and  engaging  in  hands-on  work 
placements  at  social  work  agencies, 
as  two  big  community  service  events 
coincided  on  U  of  T's  St.  George  cam- 
pus. 

Toting  bags  and  data  sheets,  a 
group  of  30  international  students 
combed  Ward's  Island  Beach  for  near- 
ly three  hours.  They  were  taking  part 
in  Outreach  2006,  U  of  T's  first  yearly 
day  of  service  work — though  it  was 
more  like  a  half-day's  work. 

Three-hundred-odd  volunteers 
turned  out  at  back  campus  at  10  a.m. 


to  sign  in  before  being  dispatched 
to  their  respective  placements.  The 
group  of  international  students 
reached  the  island  at  11  a.m.,  and 
were  initially  met  with  confusion 
when  their  contact  person  did  not 
show  up. 

"Whoever  arranged  this  never 
touched  base  with  us,"  said  a  parks 
employee  the  group  approached  for 
help.  Eventually,  the  students  were 
bussed  to  the  proper  place  aboard 
a  chartered  TTC  bus,  arriving  there 
around  noon.  They  combed  through 
about  300  metres  of  shoreline,  re- 
trieving six  bags  of  bottles,  cans,  and 
cigarette  butts  by  2  p.m. 

Also  doing  their  bit  for  the  com- 
munity on  Saturday  were  the  frosh  of 
University  College  (UC).  Their  Shin- 

SEE  COMMUNITY' -PG 4 


Third-year  exchange  student  Lei  Zhang  gathers  garbage  at  Ward's  Island  Beach 


//DAMN  THE  TORPEDOES! 


Engineers  tenaciously  tug  at  their  racing  "bed"  while  New  College  students  hurl  water  balloons  at  Thursday's  bed  races. 


//ECHOES  OF  9/11 


In  shadow  of  the  towers,  hate? 


Among  experts,  still  no  consensus  whether  Islamophobia  is  a 
growing  threat  on  Canadian  campuses,  writes  BEN  SPURR 


Five  years  after  the  September  1 1  attacks  on  the 
United  States,  their  reverberations  are  still  felt 
across  the  globe,  particularly  among  world's 
Muslim  communities.  But  the  way  the  events  of  that 
day  have  affected  Muslims  at  U  of  T  is  still  a  matter 
of  simmering  debate. 
"Since  9/11  Muslim  students  have  felt  isolated  and 
in  many  different  ways  threatened  while  on  cam- 
pus," said  Jesse  Greener,  head  of  the  Canadian  Fed- 
eration of  Students  (CFS).  "That's  a  real  problem." 

"The  reports  [the  CFS  has  received  from  Muslim 
students]  range  from  basic  needs,  which  include  a 
lack  of  halal  food,  lack  of  prayer  space... and  also 
things  like  having  exams  scheduled  during  impor- 
tant religious  moments  for  the  Muslim  community," 
said  Kelly  I-lolloway,  also  with  the  CFS. 
"People  are  getting  negative  looks  on  campus, 
professors  are  saying  things  about  Islam  that  are 
propagating  ignorance."  Greener  adds  that  even 
the  student-loan  system  could  be  seen  as  discrimi- 
natory, because  some  branches  of  Islam  consider 
interest  rates  immoral. 

But  Hajera  Khaja,  communications  director  for 
U  of  T's  Muslim  Students  Assocation  (MSA),  is  not 
overly  concerned  about  Islamophobia  on  campus. 
"I'm  not  saying  that  Islamophobic  incidents  don't 
take  place  at  all,"  she  said.  "Obviously  things  do 


happen,  and  some  of  the  things  that  happen  are  of 
grave  concern.  But  those  are  isolated  incidents.  In 
general  I  think  that  if  you  were  to  speak  to  Muslims 
on  campus  they  would  say  that  they  have  had  a 
very  positive  experience." 

Nouman  Ashraf,  U  of  T's  anti-racism  and  cultural 
diversity  officer,  says  he's  no  more  concerned  about 
Islamophobia  than  he  is  about  any  other  form  of 
discrimination  at  the  university.  "I'm  a  big  believer 
in  letting  communities  speak  about  their  lived  ex- 
perience," he  said,  "and  [Muslim  students]  are  not 
telling  me  they  have  a  problem." 

"I'm  not  saying  that  there  are  not  experiences  that 
are  less  than  savory  out  there.  But  what  I'm  hear- 
ing most  often  is  that  the  University  of  Toronto  is  a 
welcoming  place." 

Ashraf  said  that  the  university  administration 
works  closely  with  Muslim  student  groups  to  en- 
sure their  needs  are  met.  The  MSA  is  involved  in 
everything  from  staging  social  and  religious  events, 
to  publishing  a  Muslim  newspaper,  to  convincing 
campus  cafeterias  to  offer  halal  meals  on  their 
menus,  and  coordinates  a  variety  of  Muslim-orient- 
ed activities  all  geared  towards  making  the  Muslim 
student  experience  as  successful  and  comfortable 

SEE  ISLAMOPHOBIA' -  PG  2 


2   MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  11, 2006 


VARSITY  NEWS 


news@thevarsity.ca 


YEAR   OF   LANGUAGES   20  0  6    -    20  0  7 

Faculty  of  Arts  and  Science  Speaker  Series 


The  Interpreter's  Maladies:  Culture,  Gender 
and  Race  in  16th  Century  Colonial  South  Africa 

An  exploration  of  how  to  interpret  multilingualism  and  language 
exchange  when  viewed  in  Ihe  context  of  the  colonial  encounter,  with 
a  focus  on  the  life  of  Krotoa.  the  first  Christian  interpreter  of  the 
Khoikhoi  in  J  6th  century  colonial  South  Africa. 

Ato  Quayson 

Professor  of  English  and  Director,  Centre  for  Diaspora 
and  Transnational  Studies,  University  of  Toronto 


Thursday,  September  2 1 , 2006  •  4:30  p.m. 
George  Ignatieff  Theatre,  15  Devonshire  Place 

Free  Admission  •  General  Seating  •  Call  416-946-7950  or 
visit  www.artsci.utoronto.ca/ianguages  for  more  information. 


FACUUY 
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SCIENCE 

UNlVhRSlIY 
,n-ORONTO 


Presented  by  the  Facult>'  of  Arts  and  Science 
al  the  University  of  Toronto. 


Bid  to  boycott  Israel  gathering  pace? 


GUS  CONSTANTINOU 

ASSOCIATE  NEWS  EDITOR 


If  there's  one  debate  on  university 
campuses  the  world  over  that  hardly 
needs  any  more  encouragement,  it  is 
the  Israeli-Palestinian  conflict.  With 
a  summer  that  provided  increasing 
violence  in  Lebanon,  Israel  and  the  Oc- 
cupied Territories,  heated  debates  and 
discussion  await  students  as  the  new 
scholastic  year  approaches. 

Further  fueling  this  debate  has  been 
the  Canadian  Union  of  Public  Employ- 
ees's  (CUPE)  adoption  of  Resolution  50. 
Passed  unanimously  on  the  weekend 
of  May  26-27,  2006,  at  the  CUPE  annual 
convention,  Resolution  50  calls  for 
CUPE  participation  in  an  "international 
campaign  of  divestment,  boycott,  and 
sanctions  against  Israel  until  that  state 
recognizes  the  Palestinian  right  to  self- 
determination." 

The  reasons  for  CUPE's  adoption  of 
this  stance,  claims  the  union's  website, 
are  many.  They  center  on  the  Hague's 
ruling  that  the  so-called  "Israeli  apart- 
heid wall"  is  illegal,  as  well  as  solidarity 
and  support  for  the  "over  170  political 
parties,  unions,  and  other  organiza- 
tions, including  the  Palestinian  Gener- 


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al  Federation  of  Trade  Unions  in  their 
call  for  a  global  campaign  of  divest- 
ment, sanctions,  and  boycotts  against 
Israel  similar  to  those  imposed  against 
Apartheid  South  Africa."  CUPE  plans  to 
initiate  an  "education  campaign  about 
the  apartheid-like  practices  of  the  state 
of  Israel"  for  its  members. 

These  are  no  doubt  strong  words  and 
allegations  by  one  of  Canada's  leading 
union  groups.  They  also  have  drawn  in 
CUPE  Local  3902,  the  union  that  repre- 
sents short-term  instructional  staff  at 
U  of  T.  In  a  posting  on  the  Local  3902 
website,  the  Local  has  decided  to  not 
make  a  decision  on  the  document. 

It  instead  opted  to  allow  its  own 
members  to  debate  the  issue,  a  move 
that  external  officer  Judy  Pocock  said 
falls  within  the  locals'  democratic  ap- 
proach. 

"Decisions  of  the  Ontario  division  are 
not  binding  on  locals.  The  only  entity 
that  is  bound  by  this  resolution,  that 
has  a  responsibility  to  carry  it  out,  is 
the  executive  of  the  Ontario  commit- 
tee." 

Since  no  local,  but  rather  only  the 
Ontario  division,  is  bound  by  it,  the 
resolution  plays  more  a  symbolic 
gesture  than  anything  else.  Pocock 


seemed  to  agree. 

"There  is  an  obligation  on  the  Ontario 
division,  in  terms  of  doing  some  edu- 
cational work,  but  not  on  the  Locals." 
That  hasn't  made  the  reluctance  to  tak- 
ing a  position  on  the  Resolution  easier 
on  Local  3902. 

"We've  had  some  significant  discus- 
sions. At  this  point  it  is  still  our  posi- 
tion. It's  been  such  a  difficult  position 
for  our  members  that  we've,  at  this 
point,  decided  not  to  take  a  position. 
At  the  same  time,  we  think  it  doesn't 
mean  that  individual  members  or  the 
executive  can't  express  themselves. 
We  won't  bind  individuals  from  ex- 
pressing a  position." 

Len  Rudner,  director  of  community 
relations  for  the  Canadian  Jewish  Con- 
gress, agreed  on  the  symbolic  nature 
of  the  resolution  but  added  that  "it 
points  to  one  side,  says  you're  the  bad 
dogs  and  must  do  much  of  the  heavy 
lifting." 

He  said  the  resolution's  claim  that 
Israel  is  an  apartheid  state  was  a  "sick 
analogy;  an  insult  to  those  that  experi- 
enced apartheid,  that  demonizes  Isra- 
el." The  end  result,  said  Rudner,  was  a 

SEE  'ISRAEL -NEXT PAGE 


'ISLAIVIOPHOBIA'- CONTINUED  FROM  PG  1 

as  possible. 

But  Holloway  pointed  to  a  handful 
of  high-profile  incidents  of  Islamo- 
phobia  over  the  past  few  years  which 
are  a  major  cause  for  concern  for  the 
CFS.  In  March,  a  Muslim  woman  was 
followed  into  a  washroom  at  Hart 
House  and  had  an  anti-Muslim  flyer 
shoved  into  her  chest,  and  in  2004 
anti-Islamic  hate  graffiti  was  found 
scrawled  on  the  walls  of  Ryerson's 
multi-faith  prayer  space. 

Also  this  spring,  an  engineering 
school  affiliated  with  the  University 
of  Quebec  had  to  be  ordered  by  the 
Quebec  Human  Rights  Commission 
to  provide  Muslim  students  with  a 
place  to  pray.  Similarly,  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Windsor,  Muslim  students 
have  been  performing  religious  ritu- 
als in  stairwells  because  there  is  no 
adequate  space  to  accommodate 
them. 

In  response  to  what  it  sees  as  Is- 
lamophobic  incidents  at  Canadian 
universities,  the  CFS  has  formed  a 
taskforce  to  coordinate  hearings 
across  Ontario  that  will  record  testi- 
mony from  those  who  feel  they  have 
been  affected. 

"The  purpose  is  to  document  the 
needs  of  Muslim  students... and  to 
document  (instances  of)  Islamopho- 
bia,"  said  Holloway,  who's  in  charge 
of  organizing  the  taskforce,  "and 
those  can  range  from  more  subtle 
forms  to  incidents  of  violence." 

The  first  hearings  will  be  held  at  U 
of  T  in  late  September,  and  the  CFS 
will  publish  a  report  on  its  findings 
on  March  21,  2007,  at  the  Internation- 
al Day  to  End  Racism. 

The  taskforce  will  be  the  second 
major  project  the  CFS  has  under- 
taken to  tackle  anti-Muslim  activities. 
Citing  "increased  instances  of  intol- 
erance" on  Canadian  campuses,  last 
year  the  student  federation  began 
distributing  information  and  buttons 
under  the  slogan  "No  Islamophobia, 
No  Anti-Semitism,  No  Racism."  That 
campaign  is  ongoing. 

Last  Friday,  another  frosh  week 
came  to  an  end  with  SAC's  annual 
outdoor  Club  Day  fair  As  hundreds 
of  new  students  milled  about  the 
grounds  in  front  of  Hart  House,  Mus- 
lim students  were  participating  in  an- 
other long-standing  U  of  T  tradition 
inside:  Friday  prayers  at  Hart  House. 

For  the  past  41  years,  Hart  House 
has  worked  with  the  MSA  to  reserve 
a  space  for  Muslim  students  to  come 
and  pray  on  Friday  afternoons.  In  fact. 


U  of  T  has  four  locations  set  aside  for 
Muslim  religious  observances,  one 
at  the  International  Student  Cen- 
tre which  is  accessible  around  the 
clock. 

Aasim  Hasany,  who  was  laughing 
with  a  group  of  friends  outside  the 
prayer  space  on  Friday,  said  that  the 
only  Islamophobic  events  he  had  en- 
countered were  on  the  pages  of  cam- 
pus newspapers,  and  that  neither  he 
nor  anyone  he  personally  knew  had 
been  directly  affected  by  Islamopho- 
bia. He  characterized  being  a  Muslim 
student  at  U  of  T  as  "a  positive  expe- 
rience." 

The  MSA's  Kaja  said  that  while 
things  have  changed  for  Muslim  com- 
munities in  the  past  five  years,  that 
isn't  necessarily  a  negative  thing.  In- 
stead of  a  rise  in  Islamophobia  Khaja 
described  a  rise  in  curiosity  about 
Muslim  communities  in  general,  in 
the  wake  of  the  9/11  attacks.  Events 
overseas  have  led  many  Westerners 
to  want  to  learn  more  about  Islam, 
and  have  given  groups  like  the  MSA  a 
valuable  opportunity  to  engage  with 
other  Canadians. 

"I  would  argue  that  there  isn't  a 
growing  wave  of  Islamophobia  on 
campus,"  she  said.  "I  think  there 
is  a  growing  consciousness  [about 
Islam]  just  because  of  all  the  world 
events  that  have  been  happening." 

Like  Khaja,  Ashraf  sees  the  global 
attention  being  paid  to  Muslim  com- 
munities as  an  opportunity  to  engage 
and  educate. 
"There's  no  question  in  anyone's 
mind  that  the  events  of  September  11 
have  cast  a  light  on  the  experience 
of  Muslim  communities.  There's  in- 
tellectual curiosity  but  there's  also  a 
genuine  want  to  figure  out  the  com- 
munity in  the  black  box." 

Increasing  Western  concern  with 
Islam  might  also  account  for  any 
apparent  rise  in  Islamophobia,  not 
because  more  Muslims  are  under 
attack,  but  because  people  are  tak- 
ing instances  of  Islamophobia  more 
seriously. 

Despite  stepping  up  its  efforts  to 
combat  Islamophobia  in  recent  years, 
even  the  CFS  is  reluctant  to  say  that 
anti-Muslim  sentiment  at  Canadian 
universities  has  risen  since  the  9/11 
attacks. 

"It's  difficult  to  tell  if  there's  more 
incidents  of  Islamophobia  or  if  its 
just  being  reported  more  frequently," 
said  Holloway.  "Hopefully  [once]  we 
have  depositions  taking  place  across 
Canada,  we  can  get  an  idea  of  the 
breadth  and  scope  of  the  issue." 


news@thevarsity.ca 


'PRO-LIFE' -CONTINUED  FROM  PG  1 

would  have  been. 

Matusiak  explained  that  UTSFL 
had  received  the  pamphlets  from 
the  organization,  whose  website 
also  appeared  on  the  other  side  of 
the  brochure.  Asked  if  UTSFL  had 
paid  Alliance  for  Life  Ontario  for  the 
materials,  Matusiak  replied  that  "we 
paid  for  them  in  the  sense  that  it's 
a  suggested  donation."  And  she  did 
not  see  the  fact  that  UTSFL  wanted 
to  distribute  the  pamphlet  as  an 
endorsement  of  the  organization's 
message.  "That's  just  because  that's 
where  the  facts  are  from,  so  if  they 
need  a  source,  that's  where  it's 
from,"  she  said. 

Reached  by  e-mail  on  Sunday,  SAC 
general  manager  Rick  Telfer  said 
that  "junior  contract  staff  of  SAC 
mistakenly  gave  the  club  pre-autho- 
rization.  When  management  learned 
of  the  mistake,  we  were  away  and 
unable  to  review  the  material.  By  the 
time  we  returned  to  the  office,  it  was 
too  late." 

Asked  whether  SAC  had  any  rules 
in  place  as  to  the  source  of  frosh  kit 
inserts,  Telfer  replied  no.  "We  do  not 
have  rules  on  paper.  Thus,  like  any 
situation  without  rules,  it  is  a  man- 
agement decision — to  be  made  in  ac- 
cordance with  SAC's  mandate." 


'ISRAEL  -  CONTINUED  FROM  LAST  PAGE 

"spurious  analogy,  that  brings  comfort 
to  those  who  have  already  made  up 
their  minds,  but  ultimately  sheds  no 
light  on  a  complex  issue." 

For  Nadia  Daar,  however,  who  is  the 
president  of  the  Arab  Students  Collec- 
tive at  U  of  T,  the  resolution  is  an  op- 
portunity. 

"CUPE  Ontario  passing  Resolution 
50  provides  a  new  starting  point  when 
working  on  campus,"  she  said.  "One 
thing  we're  hoping  students  can  do  is 
to  put  pressure  on  their  universities  to 
divest  from  Israel." 

To  this  end,  the  Coalition  Against  Is- 
raeli Apartheid  (of  which  the  ASC  is  a 
member)  will  be  holding  a  conference 
entitled  The  Struggle  Continues:  Boy- 
cotting Israeli  Apartheid,  in  October 

And  they  are  not  alone  in  the  inter- 
national campaign  calling  for  boycotts, 
divestments,  and  sanctions  against  a 
state  many  deem  similar  to  apartheid 
South  Africa.  The  Congress  of  South 
African  Trade  Unions  and  the  South 
African  Council  of  Churches  both  sup- 
port Resolution  50,  as  does  the  Nation- 
al Association  of  Teachers  in  Higher 
and  Further  Education,  Britain's  larg- 
est college  teachers  union,  the  Green 
Party  in  the  US,  and  have  church  orga- 
nizations including  the  United  Church 
of  Canada. 


RSITY  NEWS 


MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  11, 2006  3 


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involve  water  their  orientation  leaders  also  had  the  best  designed  website. 
And  the  fact  that  their  classes  began  last  Thursday,  that  didn't  stop  them 
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quizzes  are  next  week. 
-MIKE  GHENU,  NEWS  EDITOR 


Metric's  Emily  Haines  struts  her  stuff  at  SAC's  frosh  concert  at  back  campus  Friday 


//  DEP'T  OF  CONGRATULATIONf 


Congratulations  to  Mark  McGugan,  the  winner  of  last  week's  Blue 
Jays  ticket  giveaway!  He  was  front  and  centre  when  the  Jays  beat  the 
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It  pays  to  read  The  Varsity,  so  keep  reading  to  stay  informed  of  new 
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On  Tuesday,  the 
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Attention  All  SAC  Members. 


The  Student's  Ad  m  in  strati  ve  Council  -  your  students' 
union  -  is  holding  a  byelection  to  fill  vacancies  on 
the  Board  of  Directors  in  the  following  constituenices. 

Ontario  Institute  for  Studies  in  Education 
Toronto  Sciiooi  of  Theology 
Transitional  Year  Program 
University  College 

Nomination  Period 

Sept.  18th  at  12  noon  to  Sept.  22nd  at  5  pm 
Second  Nomination  Period 

Sept.  25th  at  12  noon  to  Sept.  29th  at  5  pm 
All  Candidates  Meeting 

Friday  September  29th  at  5pm 
Campaign  Period 

Oct.  2nd  at  12  noon  to  Oct.  13  at  5pm 
Voting  Period 

Oct.  1 1th  at  12  noon  to  Oct.  13  at  5pm 

To  become  a  candidate,  members  of  a  constituency 
can  pick  up  a  candidate  information  package  during 
the  nomination  period  in  the  SAC  office.  If  no 
candidates  are  nominated  for  a  specific  seat, 
nominations  for  these  seats  will  become  open  to  all 
full-time  undergraduates  during  the  second  nomination 
period.  Full  election  rules  are  available  from  SAC. 

For  further  information,  contact  Elections  Committee 
c/o  VP  University  Affairs,  vpua@sac.utoronto.ca 
12  Hart  House  Circle,  University  of  Toronto 
416-978-4911  x230 

Students'  Administrative  Council 


Armando  Rocha  of  the  Trenton  Flames  (left)  and  Bradley  Barriage  of  the  Toronto  Hawks 
(right)  in  action  at  a  Special  Olympics  soccer  tournament  organized  on  Saturday  on  St. 
George's  front  campus. 


'COMMUNITY'  -  CONTINUED  FROM  PG  1 

erama  event  was  raising  money  for 
the  Canadian  Cystic  Fibrosis  Founda- 
tion (CCFF). 

"Put  a  straw  into  your  mouth  and 
breathe  through  it,"  said  CCFF  spokes- 
person Jennifer  Zolis.  "That's  what 
it's  like  to  live  with  CF."  The  average 
person  living  with  CF  ingests  40  pills 
a  day,  which  include  enzymes  to  help 
the  body  digest  and  absorb  foods. 

The  average  life  expectancy  for  a 
CF  sufferer  is  only  37  years. 

After  a  speech  by  Zolis,  groups 
from  UC  headed  out  to  different  lo- 
cations around  the  city  to  collect 
donations.  The  Faculty  of  Music  also 
joined  in  the  effort  this  year,  playing 
selections  from  their  repertoire  to  at- 
tract the  public. 

As  for  other  fundraising  tactics  and 
techniques,  many  were  quite  original. 
Frosh  spun  plates,  juggled,  coined 
Shinerama  cheers,  and  performed 
choreographed  dances. 

One  tactic  was  a  car  wash  held  in 
the  CIUT  parking  lot  on  St.  George 
Street.  Yet  despite  their  best  inten- 
tions, the  current  construction  on  the 


road  stopped  many  cars  from  passing 
through,  so  that  only  two  cars  had 
been  washed  an  hour  into  the  after- 
noon. The  frosh,  however,  were  un- 
relenting, waving  a  "dirty  car  =  dirty 
conscience"  sign  at  the  traffic  on  Har- 
bord  and  Hoskin  Streets. 

Last  year  was  the  first  year  Univer- 
sity College  participated  in  Shinera- 
ma, which  initially  began  as  a  shoe- 
shining  fundraiser  in  1964. 

"We  thought,  if  other  smaller 
schools  can  be  raising  [hundreds  of 
thousands  of  dollars],  and  we  have 
so  many  more  students,  we  should 
be  doing  more,"  said  Shinerama  orga- 
nizer Lucas  Castellani. 

UC  frosh  executives  decided  to  add 
the  event  as  a  formal  part  of  frosh 
week  this  year,  and  they  set  their  goal 
at  $10,000.  University  College  Liter- 
ary and  Athletic  Society  president 
George  Mastoras  even  offered  to  have 
his  entire  body  waxed  if  they  made  it 
to  $12,000. 

While  they  did  not  quite  reach 
their  goal,  the  unofficial  estimate  of 
funds  raised  sits  at  $8,000,  double 
the  amount  raised  in  2005.  Mastoras's 
body  hair  is  safe  for  now. 


opirgx 


OPIRG  stands  for  the  Ontario 
Public  Interest  Research  Group. 

We  are  a  student-funded,  volunteer- 
based  organization  at  the  University 
of  Toronto  that  promotes  and 
engages  in  action,  education  and 
research  on  a  wide  range  of  social 
justice  and  environmental  issues. 
We  offer  the  opportunity  to  build  a 
wide  range  of  skills  while  working  for 
meaningful  social  change.  OPIRG 
Toronto  is  part  of  a  province-wide 
network  of  PIRGs  based  on  universi- 
ty and  college  campuses. 


OPIRG  Toronto  is  looking 
for  new  Board  members!! 

Being  on  the  Board  requires  approx- 
imately 4  hours  per  week.  You  will 
participate  in  financial  management, 
collective  decision-making,  organi- 
zational strategic  planning,  media 
relations  and  much  more.  Elections 
take  place  at  our  Special  Members 
Meeting  on  October  2,  2006,  6-8pm  : 
at  the  AMNI  Centre  246  Bloor 
Street  West,  Rm  1 00.  For  nomination  i 
packages  or  for  more  infomarion, 
please  contact  our  office  or  visit  our 
website. 


research. action. education. 


For   Fall   events  and 

programmi  ng 
;heck   out   our  uebsite 

wuu.opirguoft.org 


101  -  563  Spadlna  Ave., 
Toronto,  ON  -  M5S  2J7 
416.978.7770 
opirg.toronto(S)utoronto.ca 


news@thevarsity.ca 


VA 


NEWS 


MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  11, 2006 


Traffic  on  St.  George  Street  a  mess  until  mid-November 


As  construction  work  on  St.  George  Street  enters 
its  final  phase,  crossing  the  street  to  get  into  Ro- 
barts  Library  may  prove  a  pain. 

The  road  surface  of  the  downtown  campus's 
main  artery  is  getting  a  make-over  between  Bloor 
Street  West  and  College  Street  and  the  city  is  tak- 
ing advantage  of  the  opportunity  to  up-size  the 
.  water  pipes  underneath. 

The  project  has  been  split  into  three  parts. 
Work  on  the  first  two  parts  of  the  project,  the 
stretch  between  Harbord  and  College  Streets,  is 
largely  complete. 

In  the  coming  weeks,  the  stretch  between  Har- 


bord Street  and  Bloor  Street  West  will  be  dug  up. 
Workers  have  already  begun  digging  up  the  west 
side  of  St.  George  Street  north  of  Harbord  Street. 
Work  on  water  pipes  is  done  first,  and  does  not 
require  that  the  street  be  completely  shut  down. 

The  repaving  part  is  done  second,  and  does 
require  that  the  road  be  closed  off  to  cars.  This 
is  the  case  in  the  area  around  Sidney  Smith  and 
University  College,  where  workers  were  adding  he 
finishing  touches  to  road  tiles. 

This  will  mean  longer  walking  times  for  those 
going  to  and  from  Roberts  Library  from  the  east 
end  of  campus. 


Pedestrians,  meanwhile,  can  amble  unabated 
on  either  side  of  St.  George.  They  may  cross  the 
street  at  several  designated  crossing  points,  and 
construction  crews  have  set  up  ramps  to  help 
those  with  mobility  disabilities  negotiate  the 
crossings. 

The  repaving  of  St.  George  Street  will  take 
place  last,  along  its  whole  length.  The  city  proj- 
ects the  work  will  be  done  around  Nov.  17. 

Until  then  there'll  be  another  excuse  for  being 
late  for  a  class  across  campus — or  for  a  Robarts' 
study  date. 
-MIKEGHENU 

St.  George  Street 
construction  411 


While  St.  George  Street  will  remain 
accessible  to  pedestrians  for  the 
duration  of  the  street  repairs,  cyclists 
find  Huron  Street  an  adequate 
substitute — and  no  cobblestones! 


Work  has  already  begun  on  the  stretch 
of  road  between  Harbord  Street  and 
Bloor  Street  West. 

The  upgrading  of  water  mains  is 
done  first;  this  work  only  requires  a 
partial  closure  of  the  roadway. 

On  Friday,  Sept.  8,  construction 
workers  had  already  constricted  the 
traffic  flow  to  one  southbound  lane 
only  during  daytime  hours. 

The  food  trucks  outside  Robarts  are 
gone — for  now. 


WHAT  IT  TAKES  TO  BE  GREAT:  Fancy 
cobblestones,  of  course. 

The  project  to  bring  the  University 
College  pathway  to  Ivy  League 
standards  is  just  wrapping  up. 

The  southernmost  end  of  the  path 
was  still  closed  off  at  press  time. 


There  are  still  abround  two  weeks  of 
work  left  on  the  portion  of  St.  George 
Street  that  is  between  Harbord  and 
College  Streets,  according  to  a  city 
inspector  who  spoke  to  The  Varsity  on 
background. 

The  highlighted  portion  of  the  road 
is  still  closed  to  car  traffic,  while 
repaving  takes  place. 


This  southern  stretch  of  St.  George 
Street  has  not  yet  been  repaved. 

Watch  out  for  the  steel  plates 
sticking  out  of  the  roadway  outside  the 
Galbraith  Building — if  you're  driving 
souped-up  Honda  Civic,  that  is. 


Residents  of  U  of  T's  southern  student 
ghetto,  on  Beverley  Street  may  also  face 
delays,  if  on  bike.  Construction  pylons 
littered  the  street  this  weekend. 

V  J 


:»  ,     T     r  1  I,  2006 
I    I  I  .m. 
I         '  rfl  Fleming 
Buildm^  10  King's 

K„„J  in  SFllOl 


6:30  -  9;00  p.m. 
Galbraith  Building, 
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in  GB202 

For  career  oDportunities. 

www.mckinsey.com/ 
careers 


McKinsey&Compaiw 


Teaching  Assistants'  Training  Program 
(TATP) 
Fall  Seminar  Series 

Online  Registration  Opens  September  5th! 
Sessions  start  on  September  15th,  2006 

Titles  include: 

First  Time  TA  (Humanities) 
First  Time  TA  (Social  Sciences) 
First  Time  TA  (Physical  and  Life  Sciences] 
First  TimeTA  (Engineering) 
Preparing  the  Teaching  Dossier 

Evaluating  Class  Participation  in  the  Humanities,  Arts  &  Social  Sciences 
Responding  to  Student  Papers  (Without  Killing  Yourself) 
Engaging  Students  in  Large  Classes 
Are  We  Having  Fun  Yet?:  Teaching  to  Different  Learning  Styles 
TA  Dilemmas  and  the  Ethics  of  Teaching 
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Teaching  First-Year  Students 
Microteaching  Sessions 

More  sessions  vi/ili  be  added  throughout  the  fall  term.  Check  website  for 
updates! 

All  sessions  are  open  to  University  of  Toronto  graduate  students. 
All  sessions  are  free. 

For  full  seminar  descriptions  and  to  register  after  September  5th,  please 
visit  our  website:  www.utoronto.ca/tatp 


6   MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  11, 2006 


The  Varsity 


with  HiUel  (g>  U  o£  T 


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IMPACT  ON  THE  QUALITY  OF  YOUR  EDUCATION 

Faculty  of  Arts  and  Science  Student  Elections 

Under  the  new  constitution  of  the  Arts  and  Science  Council,  all  voting  members  are  to  be  elected. 
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www.artsci.utoronto.ca/main/facultygovernance. 

•  Arts  and  Science  Council 

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•  3  Full  Time  Science  students 

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•  2  Part  Time  students 

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•  Curriculum  Committees 

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Room  1006,  Sidney  Smith  Hall,  by  5:00  p.m.  on  Friday,  September  15,  2006. 

For  any  positions  not  filled  by  acclamation,  a  web-based  election  will  be  held  on  Wednes- 
day, September  27  and  Thursday,  September  28,  2006. 

For  more  information,  please  contact  Lanor  Mallon,  Manager,  Faculty  Governance  and  Curriculum  at 
lmallon@artsci.utoronto.ca. 


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opinions@thevarsity.ca 


VARSITY  COMMENT 


Man:  I  feel  like  a  womyn 


Skirting  the  tricky  edges  of  gender  politics 


Alexandra  Molotkow 


In  August,  the  Michigan  Womyn's 
Festival  (MWF)  relaxed  a  stringent 
"womyn-born-womyn  only"  door 
policy  and  admitted  two  transgen- 
dered  women.  The  women  had  come 
from  Camp  Trans,  a  gathering  held 
annually  outside  MWF  grounds  in 
protest  of  the  controversial  policy, 
which  restricts  admission  to  wom- 
en born  with  female  equipment. 

Shortly  afterwards,  Camp  Trans 
issued  a  press  release  stating  that 
the  MWF  had  rescinded  the  pol- 
icy, but  MWF  founder  Lisa  Vogel 
promptly  clarified  that  the  exisit- 
ing  admission  restrictions  were  still 
in  effect.  The  policy,  according  to 
Vogel,  was  designed  to  preserve  a 
"safe  space"  where  women  born  as 
such  could  exist  in  solidarity — and 
so  it  remains. 

If  you're  not  familiar  with  terms 
like  "womyn"  or  "trans,"  chances 
are  you're  wondering  what  the  big 


deal  is.  The  unfortunate  truth  is 
that  gender  politics  can  be  as  con- 
fusing as  gender  theory  itself. 

The  schism  between  biological 
sex  and  gender  (the  roles  and  at- 
tributes we  ascribe  to  sex)  spawns 
many  complications,  to  say  the 
least.  The  New  York  Times  recently 
published  an  article  on  the  trans 
backlash  within  lesbian  communi- 
ties, where  female-to-male  (FTM) 
transsexuals  are  at  times  accused 
of  gender  treason. 

While  transsexuals  (those  who've 
changed  or  want  to  change  their 
biological  sex)  and  transgendered 
people  (those  who  cross  genders, 
not  necessarily  through  surgical 
means)  fight  to  gain  social  and  po- 
litical ground,  their  ostensible  al- 
lies have  their  own — at  times  con- 
flicting— agendas  to  defend.  Each 
letter  in  "LGBTQ"  has  its  own  set  of 
opinions  about  whether  a  dude  is  a 
woman  is  a  woman  is  a  dude. 

Gender  bending  is  nothing  new; 


it  does  and  has  always  belonged 
to  most  if  not  all  cultures  in  some 
form  or  another.  However,  now  that 
those  at  the  sexual  margins  are 
reaching  new  levels  of  visibility  in 
the  Western  world,  trans  activism 
has  become  a  new  frontier. 

While  "drag  queen"  is  part  of  the 
popular  lexicon,  gender-inclusive 
pronouns  ("ze"  and  "hir")  haven't 
quite  caught  on  beyond  PC  keen- 
ers.  The  recent  film  Transamerica 
helped  to  raise  awareness  about 
sex-reassignment  surgeries,  but 
the  procedures  themselves  aren't 
always  covered  by  health  insurance 
plans  (they  were  delisted  in  Ontario 
by  the  Harris  government  in  1998). 

Of  course,  bigotry  runs  high 
where  matters  of  sexual  diversity 
are  concerned — the  murders  of 
Gwen  Araujo  and  Brandon  Teena, 
the  transgendered  victims  of  two 
hate  crimes  in  the  United  States, 
tragically  prove  this  point. 

In  an  informal  sense,  gender  roles 


have  long  been  under  fire  in  popular 
culture — and  we're  not  just  talking 
Barbies  vs.  Tonka  Trucks.  Take  "me- 
trosexuality,"  an  expression  we're 
all  sick  of  hearing.  It's  a  marketing 
ploy  which  affords  men  the  right  to 
primp  whilst  maintaining  a  fagade 
of  masculinity.  Many  men  buy  into 
this  because  metrosexuality  almost 
seems  hyper-masculine — a  matter 
of  "reclaiming"  female  pastimes  for 
specifically  "male"  purposes,  name- 
ly attracting  (presumably  female) 
bedmates. 

In  reality,  of  course,  men  and 
women  groom  themselves  for  the 
same  reasons — everyone  experi- 
ences self-doubt,  feels  good  when 
they  look  good,  and  likes  to  have  sex 
regardless  of  what  they're  packing. 
If  straight  men  can  be  tricked  into 
plucking  their  eyebrows  this  easily, 
then  surely  men  and  women  are  not 
as  different  as  we  had  assumed. 

Does  this  imply  that  gender  is 
a  blank  slate?  Many  people  feel 


MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  11, 2006  7 


as  though  they've  been  born  the 
wrong  sex.  These  people,  labeled 
as  having  Gender  Identity  Disorder, 
are  certain  of  their  genders — it  just 
so  happens  that  these  genders "be- 
long" to  the  opposite  sex. 

But  even  this  answer  is  fairly 
black  and  white,  and  gender  can  be 
shades  of  grey.  Some  people  iden- 
tify themselves  as  both  man  and 
woman,  neither,  or  something  else 
altogether.  Here  pronoun  use  be- 
comes a  battleground,  and  toes  are 
constantly  being  stepped  on. 

We  have  a  natural  tendency  to  pi- 
geonhole, and  it's  difficult  to  stream- 
line a  reference  code  for  something 
as  potentially  complicated  and 
unpredictable  as  gender  identity. 
While  forging  a  gender-neutral  Uto- 
pia may  not  be  within  our  current 
capabilities,  promoting  social  and 
political  legitimacy  for  transsexu- 
als is.  Theorizing,  while  important, 
comes  second  to  improving  peo- 
ples' lives. 


//SUMMER  JOB  HORROR,  PARTI 


This  is  Wonderland? 


You'd  scream  too  if  beset  by  rowdy  kids  and  absentee  managers  all  summer. 


Christine  Yao 


There  were  countless  faces  in  the 
mob:  every  ethnicity  and  age,  an- 
gry and  shouting.  They  were  all 
pointed  in  my  general  direction 
and  only  held  back  by  propriety. 
Never  would  1  have  thought  that  my 


summer  job  would  have  so  much  in 
common  with  Kofi  Annan's. 
I  was  working  as  a  Guest  and  In- 
formation Services  Coordinator 
at  Canada's  Wonderland.  I  saw  the 
dark  side  of  your  summer  fun. 

After  the  initial  glow  of  the  new 
job,  1  experienced  the  ugly  side  of 


humanity.  People  have  a  strong 
sense  of  entitlement,  especially 
when  they've  paid  the  price  for 
admission  into  a  theme  park.  They 
want  their  happy  and  they  want  it 
now! 

It  is  easy  to  dehumanize  your 
customers  after  being  verbally 
abused  despite  your  best  attempts 
to  pacify  their  requests.  But  annoy- 
ances like  people  smoking  in  front 
of  the  "no  smoking"  signs  when  you 
tell  them  not  to,  or  holding  maps 
in  their  hands  and  asking  where 
the  maps  are,  eventually  dwindle 
into  insignificance.  There  are  other 
things  to  worry  about. 

I  can  only  hope  they  put  enough 
chlorine  into  the  water  park,  con- 
sidering the  tales  I've  heard.  Or  the 
many  parents  that  will  argue  that 
their  children  are  several  inches 
taller  than  their  actual  height. 
Why?  Apparently  so  their  kiddies 
can  go  onto  the  bigger  rides  where 
the  tots  might  be  bruised  or  hurled 
to  a  grisly  death. 

I  eventually  found  a  new  target 
for  my  contempt.  I  realized  custom- 
er service  is  designed  so  that  only 
the  biggest  complainers  reap  the 
greatest  benefits.  I  felt  trapped  by 


clumsy  policies  that  impeded  my 
efforts  to  actually  help  people  re- 
solve their  issues.  Meanwhile,  the 
majority  of  theme  park  staff  suffer 
from  their  youth  and  seasonal  sta- 
tus; they  are  poorly  trained  and 
poorly  managed. 

The  biggest  fiasco  occurs  when 
it  rains  at  the  park  and  the  angry 
crowd  comes  rolling  in,  deprived  of 
their  summer  fun.  I  was  fascinated 
by  this  study  in  mob  mentality.  As 
the  anger  builds,  previously  mild- 
mannered  individuals  transform 
into  the  Leviathan.  I  witnessed  the 
emergence  of  temporary  dema- 
gogues and  the  organization  of 
angry  chants  of  "We  want  to  see  a 
manager!" 

The  managers  cower  in  a  back 


room,  and  when  they  do  pop  out 
they  try  to  convince  the  hordes 
that  the  park  never  gives  out  rain 
refunds  and  never  will — until  they 
do,  of  course.  I'm  no  radical,  but  the 
sheer  incompetence  and  irrespon- 
sibility of  the  administration  al- 
most forced  me  to  become  an  anar- 
chist. Especially  when  they  messed 
around  with  my  paycheque. 

Fortunately,  later  that  summer  I 
found  another  job  at  a  downtown 
charity.  In  the  end,  I  did  gain  skills 
that  I  was  able  to  parley  into  better 
things — this  year,  I  was  a  summer 
student  with  the  Ministry  of  the 
Attorney  General.  The  nightmare 
faded  away  into  a  nice  addition  to 
my  resume.  But  sometimes,  I  can 
still  hear  the  mob... 


//QUOTABLE 


"You  know  that  if  you  die  as  an  unbeliever  in  battle 
against  the  Muslims  you're  going  straight  to  Hell  without 
passing  'Go. "'  (msn.com) 


A  message  to  U.S.  troops  from  the  latest  al-Qaeda  video,  quoting 
bin-Laden  translator  Adam  Yehiye  Gadahn  from  inside  bin-Laden's 
bright  red  hotel  atop  Random  Cave  Ave. 


!WARSITY 

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Editor-in-Chief 

Sarah  Barmak 

Production  Manager 

Rogelio  Briseno 

News  Editor 

Mike  Ghenu 

Photo  Editor 

Kara  Dillon 

Science  Editor 

Sandy  Huen 

Arts  &  Entertainment  Editor 

Jordan  Bimm 


Sports  Editor 

Christophe  Poirier 

Comment  Editor 

J. P.  Antonacci 

Satellite  Campus  Bureau  Chief 

Gus  Constantinou 

Associate  A&E  Editors 

Jennifer  Fabro 
Chandler  Levack 

Associate  Sports  Editor 

Perry  King 


Associate  News  Editors 

Malcolm  Johnston 
Adrian  Khan 
Josephine  Lee 
Anita  Li 
Amy  Smithers 
Kevin  Wong 

Associate  Comment  Editor 

Cam  Vidler 

Associate  Science  Editors 

Mayce  Al-Sukhni 
Mandy  Lo 


Contrii]utors: 

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8    MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  11, 2006 


VARSITY  SCIENCE 


science@thevarsity.ca 


Stem  cells  on  the  brain 

The  ability  to  stimulate  brain  cell  growth 
may  soon  be  an  option  in  the  treatment 
of  a  variety  of  neurological  disorders. 
Recently,  Harvard  University  scientists 
have  discovered  two  key  compounds 
that  affect  the  growth  of  cells  in  the  brain, 
one  that  signals  cells  to  grow  and  one 
that  stops  growth.  The  two  compounds 
normally  play  a  role  in  inflammation  and 
are  also  regulators  of  proliferation  of  sev- 
eral different  cell  types.  LTB4,  the  growth 
compound,  causes  stem  cells  from  the 
brains  of  mouse  embryos  to  proliferate 
and  differentiate,  giving  rise  to  addition- 
al stem  cells  and  differentiated  neurons. 
When  the  mouse  cells  were  exposed  to 
LXA4.  the  compound  that  stops  growth, 
they  experienced  decreased  growth  and 
cell  death.  With  these  findings,  scientists 
hope  to  selectively  regulate  the  growth 
of  the  brain's  stem  cells  in  order  to  pro- 
vide therapeutic  approaches  to  illnesses 
such  as  Parkinson's  disease,  stroke,  mul- 
tiple sclerosis,  and  other  neurological 
disorders. 

Source:  FASEB  Journal 
— MAYCEAL-SUKHNI 


Better  fat  than  starving 

.4t  the  10th  International  Congress  on 
Obesity  in  Sydney,  leading  researchers 
on  obesity  and  its  health  complications 
warned  that  there  are  more  overweight 
people  in  the  world  today  than  under- 
nourished. The  World  Health  Organiza- 
tion statistics  estimate  there  are  one 
billion  overweight  adults,  most  of  which 
reside  in  developed  countries,  while  800 
million  people  do  not  have  enough  to 
eat.  The  statistics  also  estimate  that  by 
2010,  the  developing  world  will  break 
the  developed  world's  staggering  stat 
of  obesity,  a  projection  these  research- 
ers announced  ominously.  "The  Obesity 
Epidemic,"  as  it  is  termed,  has  also  af- 
fected an  estimated  22  million  children 
worldwide.  Researchers  warn  that  the 
health  consequences  of  obesity,  like  dia- 
betes and  heart  disease,  will  immobilize 
hospitals  and  facilities  everywhere. 
Source:  A.P. 
— SANDY HUEN 

The  mind  of  a  criminal 

In  the  field  of  drug  abuse  research,  one 
Kansas  State  University  professor  stud- 
ies the  drug  methamphetamine,  or 
meth,  from  a  unique  perspective.  Using 
geography  and  geospatial  technology, 
the  study  used  seized  meth  labs  to  ana- 
lyze the  association  between  meth  lab 
distribution  and  the  meth  maker's  so- 
cio-economic and  geographic  position. 
Described  as  one  of  the  most  dangerous 
drugs  abused,  meth  is  made  relatively 
easily  at  home  with  over-the-counter 
medicines.  With  data  from  a  number 
of  seized  meth  labs  over  the  past  six 
years,  the  study  concluded  that  meth 
labs  weren't  set  up  randomly  over  geo- 
graphical space.  Three  zones  in  Kansas 
were  revealed  to  be  fertile  ground  for 
meth  lab  establishments,  specifically 
those  with  low  housing  values  and  high 
unemployment  rates.  Poverty  and  drug 
abuse  found  to  be  linked.  Who  would 
have  guessed?  As  the  next  phase  of  the 
study,  the  investigators  plan  to  interview 
law-enforcement  officers  in  the  area. 
Perhaps  they  will  shed  some  new  light 
on  drug  abuse  in  North  America. 
Source:  Kansas  Stale  University 
— S.H. 


New  LEAPPs  in  medicine 


Jennifer  Bates 


A  natural  storyteller,  Kevin  Dekis 
floods  with  emotion  when  he  talks 
about  the  past  few  years  of  his  life. 
Life  has  been  hard  for  Dekis:  two  and 
a  half  years  ago,  complications  in 
surgery  for  colon  cancer  meant  the 
removal  of  his  small  intestine  and 
the  onset  of  short  bowel  syndrome,  a 
chronic  condition  requiring  constant 
medical  attention. 

"It's  changed  my  life,"  said  Dekis. 

As  terrible  as  his  experiences  have 
been,  Dekis"  condition  and  innate  abil- 
ity as  a  narrator  make  him  a  perfect 
candidate  for  a  pioneering  medical 
school  program  at  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania  School  of  Medicine. 
The  LEAPP  program,  or  Longitudi- 
nal Experience  to  Appreciate  Patient 
Perspectives  is  Penn's  attempt  to  get 
students  to  "see  chronic  illness  from 
the  patient's  point  of  view,"'  according 
to  Carol  Phillips,  the  program"s  coor- 
dinator. 

The  LEAPP  program  pairs  patients 
with  chronic  illnesses  like  Kevin  De- 
kis with  med  students  entering  their 
first  year  at  Penn.  Two  students  are 
assigned  to  each  patient  from  whom 
they  are  expected  gain  insight  into 
coping  with  a  chronic  illness. 

"[The  students]  will  contact  the  pa- 
tient once  a  month  by  phone  or  e-mail 
and  they're  supposed  to  see  them  in 
person  at  least  once  a  semester,  or 
more,"  said  Phillips.  As  one  of  the 
patients,  Dekis  is  eager  to  impart  his 
experiences. 

"Anything  1  can  do  to  enlighten  any- 
body to  my  situation  or  help  anybody 
out,  I'd  be  more  than  happy  to  do," 
said  Dekis. 

Students  must  complete  assign- 
ments to  fulfill  the  requirements  of 
the  LEAPP  program.  First-year  stu- 
dents in  the  program's  launch  com- 


pleted four  assignments  where  top- 
ics ranged  from  the  effect  of  chronic 
illness  on  patients  to  difficulties  with 
the  health-care  system.  And  response 
to  the  program  from  its  students  has 
been  mostly  favourable. 

"It's  hard  to  teach  how  to  be  a  good 
person,  in  some  ways,  but  really  [dif- 
ficult] to.. .teach  the  doctor-patient 
relationship,"  said  Adam  Lessler,  a 
second-year  med  student.  "[The  pro- 
gram] at  least  gives  us  an  exposure 
to  that  so  we  start  thinking  about  it 
more  consciously." 

However,  the  program  is  not  free 
of  snags.  Finding  willing  patients  to 
participate  can  be  a  challenge.  That's 
where  Dr.  Paul  Lankin,  director  of 
the  LEAPP  program,  comes  in.  He 


approaches  different  doctors  in  the 
university  health  network  who  have 
a  good  practice  and  many  patients.  If 
the  doctors  want  to  be  involved,  they 
become  preceptors  who  not  only  sug- 
gest candidate  patients  but  also  me- 
diate the  interaction  between  patient 
and  student. 

"We  need  patients  who  like  to  talk 
and  that  like  to  share  what  they're 
going  through,"  said  Phillips.  Break- 
downs in  communication  also  mean 
students  are  not  always  notified 
when  a  patient  has  been  admitted  to 
the  hospital  for  a  prolonged  stay.  The 
notoriously  busy  second  year  at  Penn 
can  make  it  difficult  for  students  to 
keep  in  touch  with  their  patient. 

The  program,  despite  its  draw- 


backs, is  making  an  impact  in  the  way 
universities  teach  medicine.  In  fact, 
U  of  T's  med  school  may  soon  follow 
suit. 

"1  think  there's  definite  value  in  be- 
ing attached  to  a  patient  for  a  longer 
period  of  time,"  said  Dr.  Jay  Rosen- 
field,  the  vice-dean  for  undergraduate 
medical  education  at  U  of  T.  "It's  more 
challenging  in  the  undergraduate  pro- 
gram [to  implement]  but  it's  definitely 
something  I  think  is  valuable." 

U  of  T  is  considering  changing  its 
program  to  incorporate  the  recom- 
mendations of  a  task  force  that  sug- 
gests students  should  have  a  more 
long-term  experience  with  a  family 
doctor  in  the  first  two  years  of  the 
program. 


//TOP  OF  THEIR  CLASS 


From  earth  to  air  in  an  ice  age 


Sandy  Huen 

SCIENCE  EDITOR 


Scientists  for  years  have  warned 
that  climate  change  will  destroy  the 
natural  world,  but  many  have  been 
hard-pressed  to  prove  it.  Today,  a 
30-year-oId  theory  begins  to  shed 
light  on  climate  change  by  looking 
at  the  past  ice  age  and  its  effect  on 
the  earth. 

The  theory  was  developed  by 
Professor  Dick  Peltier  of  the  depart- 
ment of  planetary  physics  at  U  of  T, 
who  has  charted  the  way  the  earth 
moves  for  most  of  his  life.  He  is  this 
year's  recipient  of  the  Miroslaw  Ro- 
manowski  Medal  given  by  the  Royal 
Society  of  Canada  for  his  work  in  ad- 
vancing climate  change  research. 

"On  very,  very  long  time  scales, 
solid  earth  behaves  like  silly  putty," 
he  explained.  "If  you  keep  pushing 
it,  it  flows  like  liquid." 

The  effect,  which  forms  the  basis 
of  Peltier's  research,  is  termed  the 
earth's  viscosity  and  is  best  ob- 
served by  studying  the  response 
of  the  planet  to  ice  ages.  The  last 
glaciation  had  covered  Canada  with 
a  2  km-thick  sheet  of  ice  that  has 
weighed  the  earth  down  such  that 
continents  are  still  responding  to- 


day. Like  a  spring,  sea  level  in  plac- 
es like  Hudson  Bay  has  been  falling 
because  the  earth  underneath  is 
rising  from  the  alleviated  weight  of 
deglaciation.  These  measurements 
allow  Peltier  to  observe  the  earth's 
viscosity  and  patterns  of  continen- 
tal drift  in  the  past  21,  000  years. 

"The  work  I  have 
done  enables  you 
to  pick  the  ice  age 
effect  on  sea  level 
and  the  modern 
global  warming 
effect  apart." 


"This  is  right  at  the  heart  of  all  the 
debates  which  are  going  on  about 
climate  change,"  Peltier  said. 

Sea  level  changes,  the  earth's 
movement,  and  the  fluid-convec- 
tion system  of  the  atmosphere  are 
all  closely  related  phenomena  that 
form  Peltier's  greater  theory  on 


climate  change.  Significant  fluc- 
tuations in  the  system  of  climate 
and  continent  interactions  have 
prompted  the  theory  into  a  simula- 
tion model  of  climate  for  the  entire 
world. 

"There's  an  ancient  ice  age  effect 
[on  sea  level]  and  then  a  modern 
global  warming  effect  associated 
with  greenhouse  gases  in  the  atmo- 
sphere," Peltier  said.  "The  work  I 
have  done  enables  you  to  pick  those 
two  parts  apart." 

The  global  climate  model  simula- 
tion accurately  predicts  sea  level 
at  any  given  point  in  the  world  as  a 
consequence  of  the  last  deglaciation 
event  and  earth's  memory  of  it. 

"This  is  very  important  in  un- 
derstanding the  additional  effect 
on  sea  level  that's  associated  with 
greenhouse  gas-induced  global 
warming,"  Peltier  said.  First-hand 
measurements  made  by  a  tide  gauge 
at  any  coastline  in  the  world  can  be 
compared  to  Peltier's  predictions, 
meaning  more  accurate  conclusions 
about  global  warming  can  be  made. 

By  identifying  the  cause  of  atmo- 
spheric anomalies,  be  it  deglacia- 
tion or  human  civilization,  Peltier's 
research  lays  the  groundwork  for 
targeting  causes  and  stabilizing 


Dick  Peltier,  among  the  seven  U  of  T 
faculty  members  awarded  by  the  Royal 
Society  of  Canada  for  research  in  the 
sciences,  is  the  first  of  this  year's  series 
of  professor  profiles. 

our  changing  climate.  His  simula- 
tion model,  used  internationally  by 
researchers,  is  an  important  tool 
in  understanding  today's  changing 
world. 


opinions@thevarsity.ca 


VARSITY  A&E 


MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  11, 2006  9 


Our  film  critic  RADHEYAN  SIMONPILLAI 
dives  head  first  into  all  facets  of  the 
Toronto  International  Film  Festival 


Actress  Reese  Witherspoon  grants  a  red-carpet  interview 


days,  18  programmes,  352  films, 
and  over  500  international 
guests,  all  packed  into  one  beau- 
tiful and  diverse  city.  While  the 


Toronto  International  Film  Festival  is  now 
in  its  31st  year,  navigating  this  burgeoning 
screen  scene  requires  nerves  of  steel  and  a 
veritable  battle  plan.  Between  all  the  soid-out 
premieres  and  star-studded  galas,  how  is  the 
average  moviegoer  to  approach  this  colossal 
cultural  tastemaker? 

Plan  A  "Get  the  Jump":  Last  year  s  TIFF 
featured  early  screenings  of  Crash,  Brokeback 
Mountain,  Capote,  and  Walk  the  Line — in  fact, 
all  with  the  exception  of  Brokeback  had  their 
world  premieres  right  here  in  Toronto.  In  case 
you've  been  living  under  a  rock  for  that  last 
seven  months,  those  four  films  all  went  on  to 
receive  top  honours  at  the  Oscars  and  Golden 
Globes.  So  it's  easy  to  see  why  certain  Holly- 
wood buzz-films  become  high-value  targets 
for  film  scenesters  seeking  to  pre-empt  the 
hype  and  secure  some  Oscar-night  bragging 
rights. 

This  year's  festival  also  boasts  a  number  of 
films  that  seem  to  be  contending  for  a  gold 
statuette.  There's  no  doubt  that  people  will  be 
lined  up  to  see  the  world  premiere  of  All  the 
King's  Men,  a  stirring  political  drama  starring 
A-Listers  Sean  Penn,  Jude  Law,  Kate  Win- 
slet,  and  James  Gandolfini,  and  critics  are 
already  hailing  director  Todd  Field's  latest 
suburban  drama,  Little  Children  as  a  serious 
awards-show  threat,  while  director  Anthony 
Mingheila  (who's  got  a  hardcore  Oscar  itch) 
hopes  for  a  similar  reaction  to  his  new  film. 
Breaking  and  Entering.  Hey,  life  is  sweet  when 
you  get  to  say  you  saw  it  first. 

Plan  B  "Buried  Treasure":  This  approach 

is  to  catch  the  most  obscure  foreign  and  indie 
flicks  screening  at  TIFF  with  the  sound  reason- 
ing that  each  year  some  obscure  cinematic 
genius  quietly  slips  through  the  cracks  never 
to  see  the  inside  of  a  Toronto  theatre  again. 
This  option  offers  wide  selection  and  viewing 
flexibility,  since  two  third's  of  the  festival  pro- 
gramming is  made  up  of  these  films.  Plus,  you 
just  might  catch  the  big  sleeper  hit  of  2007. 


Plan  C  "Red  Carpet  Fever":  what?  There 

are,  like,  movies  in  this  film  festival?  This  ap- 
proach is  for  all  the  wannabe  paparazzi  who 
say  "whatever"  to  all  that  arty  film  nonsense, 
and  just  want  to  stalk  celebrities  and  party 
hard  in  ritzy  clubs.  In  that  sense  this  year's 
festival  is  a  blockbuster,  starring  the  likes  of 
Sacha  Baron  Cohen,  Tom  Hanks,  Jennifer 
Lopez,  The  Flaming  Lips,  Russell  Crowe, 
Michael  Moore,  and  Brad  Pitt.  Who  needs 
movies  when  the  pages  of  Hello!  are  walking 
down  our  streets? 

Hot  stakeout  spots  include  the  Four  Seasons 
and  the  Sutton  Place  hotels,  pretty  much  all 
of  Yorkville,  and,  of  course,  those  famous  red 
carpets. 

We've  found  that  the  best  approach  to  a  well- 
rounded  festival  experience  is  to  plan  ahead 
and  try  to  experience  a  little  of  each,  just  like 
we  have  here. 

Exclusive  interview: 
Cillian  Murphy 

Irish  Actor  Cillian  Murphy  (Batman  Begins, 
28  Days  Later,  Breakfast  on  Pluto')  sat  down  to 
chat  with  The  Varsity  about  his  starring  role  in 
Ken  Loach's  IRA  drama,  The  Wind  that  Shakes 
the  Barley,  which  has  its  North  American  pre- 
miere at  this  year's  fest. 

Curled  up  on  a  couch  and  sporting  a  huge 
pair  of  shades — presumably  to  hide  a  massive 
hangover  from  a  party  the  night  before — he 
was  nevertheless  forthcoming  about  how  he 
approaches  subject  matter  that  hits  close  to 
home. 

The  Varsity:  What  would  you  like  foreign 
audiences,  who  might  not  be  so  familiar  with 
Irish  history,  to  take  away  from  this  film? 

Cillian  Murphy:  Well  I  think  the  film  works 
on  two  levels.  It's  a  political  film,  obviously, 
but  also  it's  a  human  story,  and  I  think  people 
anywhere  can  get  that  side  of  the  human  story. 
If  they  wish  to  go  further  and  exercise  their 
minds  a  little  more,  they  can  take  some  of  the 
political  meaning  from  it  and  maybe  apply  that 


to  the  world  around  them. 

V:  How  would  you  respond  to  critics  that  dis- 
miss the  film  as  a  one-sided  take  on  events? 

CM:  Well  1  would  like  to  see  them  point  out 
any  atrocity  in  the  film  that  didn't  actually  hap- 
pen. It's  all  fact.  It  all  happened.  The  black  and 
tans  (British  soldiers  deployed  in  the  occupa- 
tion of  Ireland)  carried  out  these  atrocities. 
And  none  of  them  are  saying  it  didn't  happen. 
Also,  we  made  a  film  about  a  group  of  young 
men.  That's  our  story.  The  story  isn't  about  a 
group  of  young  black  and  tans.  You  can't  tell 
a  film  from  every  angle.  You  have  to  choose  a 
number  of  protagonists  and  follow  their  story. 

V:  As  an  Irish  actor,  did  you  feel  a  responsibil- 
ity to  make  films  at  or  about  home? 

CM:  I  don't  feel  any  responsibility,  because  I 
don't  write  them  or  direct  them.  But  if  a  good 
script  comes  along,  like  for  example  Breakfast 
on  Pluto  two  years  ago,  and  then  this,  it's  more 
that  they  were  good  stories  than  that  they 
were  Irish  films. 

V:  In  this  film  there's  a  scene  where  your  char- 
acter, Damien,  a  doctor,  has  to  execute  a  young 
traitor,  can  you  describe  how  he  might  have 
justified  that? 

CM:  He's  a  doctor.  So  how  the  hell  do  you 
reconcile  being  a  doctor  and  taking  life  back? 
I  think  with  Damien,  he  feels  that  once  he  gets 
involved  with  this  cause,  that  he  has  to  see  it 
through  till  its  ultimate  conclusion.  All  demo- 
cratic means  have  been  closed  off  to  them. 
Their  Parliaments  were  banned.  Their  news- 
papers were  banned.  So  violence  was  the  only 
last  thing  they  could  resort  to.  It  became  a  war, 
and  in  a  war,  traitors  are  shot.  So  I  guess  that's 
probably  the  only  justification  I  can  think  of. 

Exclusive  Interview: 
Alejandro  Gonzalez  Ifiarritu 

Later  on,  we  caught  up  with  the  acclaimed  Mexi- 
can Director  Alejandro  Gonzalez  Ifiarritu  to  ask 


him  about  the  North  American  premiere  of  his 
latest  flick,  Babel,  which  stars  Brad  Pitt  and 
Cate  Blanchett.  Set  in  Morocco,  Babel  prom- 
ises to  complete  Ifiarritu's  "trilogy  of  death" 
which  includes  his  two  previous  films  Amores 
Perros  and  21  Grams.  Earlier  this  year  Babel 
was  nominated  for  the  Palme  d'Or,  the  top  prize 
awarded  at  the  Cannes  Film  Festival. 

The  Varsity:  Do  the  fractured  timelines 
of  your  films  portray  your  own  sense  of  the 
world? 

Alejandro  Gonzalez  Ifiarritu:  I  think 

first  of  all  it  portrays  how  the  world  happens. 
While  we  are  talking  now  there  are  things  that 
are  happening  that  will  affect  us.  It's  a  way  to 
observe  things  the  way  they  are,  to  take  advan- 
tage of  what  the  film  offers  you.  And  I  think  at 
the  same  time,  obviously  there  is  a  dramatic 
tension  that  you  can  create  by  putting  this  kind 
of  hook  around  things,  which  is  storytelling. 

V:  You're  trilogy  has  been  referred  to  as  a  "tril- 
ogy of  death",  and  I  didn't  really  buy  that.  I  was 
wondering  what  you  think  is  the  overriding 
theme  among  these  three  movies? 

AGI  :  Well  basically  the  main  thing  for  me.  and 
the  reason  1  call  them  a  trilogy,  is  because  the 
three  of  them  are  about  parents  and  children 
and  the  complex  relation  of  it,  the  pain  and  vul- 
nerability, and  fragility  we  feel  as  one  and  the 
other.  The  other  thing  is  that  all  of  them  are 
interconnected  by  one  event.  In  Amores  Per- 
ros there  are  just  three  stories  that  happen  to 
cross  in  one  single  moment.  In  21  Grams,  basi- 
cally there's  one  story  told  in  three  different 
points  of  view  and  the  stories  are  physically 
connected.  And  in  Babel  there  is  no  physical 
connection.  They  never  see  each  other.  It's  just 
an  emotional  connection.  That's  why  I  call  them 
a  trilogy.  But  I  think  it's  more  about  life  than 
death.  The  thing  is  in  Western  cultures  we  try 
to  avoid  death.  We  don't  want  to  see  it.  We  want 
to  dismiss  it.  That's  why  we  have  surgery  and 
Botox  and  all  of  those  things.  We  don't  want  to 
recognize  that  it  is  part  of  life.  So  there  is  death, 

CONTINUED  ON  NEXT  PAGE 


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but  I  think  it  is  more  about  life.  I  hope 
that  is  more  about  life. 

Vl  There  are  rumours  that  you  had  a 
falling  out  with  writer  Guillermo  Ar- 
riaga.  Are  you  planning  to  work  with 
him  again? 

AGI:  I  think  he  wants  to  direct,  which 
I  think  is  great  for  him.  I  think  we  are 
very  satisfied  with  this  trilogy.  That's 
the  end  of  this  concept.  Let's  see  what 
happens  later. 

Vj  You  dedicated  this  movie  to  your 
children.  Are  you  anxious  about  their 
future  in  this  world? 

AGI:  Yeah,  I  worry.  The  way  the  world 
is  heading  now  is  super  wrong.  When 
you  have  more  power  than  culture,  as 
the  President  of  the  United  States  does 
or  even  Tony  Blair,  it's  a  very  danger- 
ous moment  for  history.  The  world  is 
now  in  the  hands  of  people  who  are  not 
very  smart.  And  what  is  happening  is,  it 
seems  that  you  are  guilty  for  being  dif- 
ferent. So  this  theory  that  the  ones  who 
are  not  with  us  are  against  us  is  really 
fucking  things  around  in  the  world.  And 
now  look  how  the  world  is  going.  It's  ter- 
rible. How  many  kids  are  dying  every 
year?  How  many  Iraqi  kids,  or  Afghani- 
stan kids,  or  Palestinian  kids,  or  Jewish 
kids  are  dying?  I  have  two  kids  and  I'm 
obviously  worried  by  these  things. 

V:  Do  you  think  you  could  organize  a 
screening  of  Babel  at  the  White  House? 

AGI:  I  don't  think  that  [George  W. 
Bush]  would  like  to  see  this  kind  of 
film. 


The  Best  (and  worst) 
of  the  Fest! 


THE  WIND  THAT  SHAKES  THE 
BARLEY 

Director  Ken  Loach 

Loach's  film  about  the  British 
occupation  of  Ireland  in  the  early 
twentieth  century  and  the  militant 


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oppression  which  gave  birth  to  the 
IRA  is  as  infuriating  as  it  is  relevant 
to  current  events.  The  film  tells  the 
story  of  two  brothers,  Damien  (Gillian 
Murphy),  a  doctor  on  his  way  to  work 
in  London,  while  Teddy  (Padraic 
Delaney)  is  a  Republican  devoted  to 
expelling  the  British  from  Ireland. 
It  only  takes  one  heart-wrenching 
moment  for  Damien  to  switch  gears, 
and  join  his  brother  in  the  beginnings 
of  the  IRA.  However,  as  Damien  and 
Teddy  begin  to  gain  more  ground  in 
their  battle  for  independence,  their 
world  becomes  increasingly  divided 
and  violent.  Loach's  puritan  style 
of  filmmaking  eloquently  weaves 
the  politics  of  Ireland's  turmoil  into 
its  characters,  telling  the  story  of  a 
conflict  that  takes  place  in  pubs  and 
homes,  not  just  the  blood-soaked 
grain  fields  and  offices  of  the  English 
Parliament.  While  maintaining  a 
bloody  account  of  this  turning 
point  in  Irish  history.  Barley  also 
quietly  delivers  an  allegory  for  the 
regenerative  power  of  violence. 

Rating:  VWW 

BABEL 

Director:  Alejandro  Gonzalez 
Indrritu's 

Babel,  The  ambitious  final  chapter  of 
Ifiarritu's  trilogy  about  death  and  iso- 
lation, is  nowhere  near  as  fractured 
as  its  predecessors,  Amores  Perros 
or  21  Grams,  but  also  lacks  the  ebb 
and  flow  that  made  those  previous 
installments  landmark  achievements 
in  cinema.  Exploring  a  broader  ter- 
rain than  the  earlier  films.  Babel 
weaves  together  the  separate  stories 
of  a  traveling  American  couple,  a 
Mexican  nanny,  a  family  of  Arab  goat 
herders,  and  a  deaf  Japanese  girl, 
who  are  inexorably  connected  after 
single,  accidental  gunshot  links  them 
all  forever.  Named  after  the  biblical 
tale  about  God's  attempt  to  confuse 
the  languages  mankind,  Babel  is  an 
eloquently  rendered  tapestry  of  mis- 
communication,  which  postulates 
that  in  a  world  that  has  grown  very 
small,  the  greatest  distances  are  the 
ones  that  we  ruthlessly  impose  on 
each  other.  Although  the  film  has 
trouble  matching  the  emotional  wal- 
lop of  Ifiarritu's  previous  features. 
Babel  achieves  an  epic  grandeur 
without  losing  respect  for  those  inti- 
mate heartfelt  moments  of  his  trade- 
mark style. 

Rating:  VWW 


BREAKING  AND  ENTERING 

Director:  Anthony  Minghella 

Writer/director  Anthony  Minghella 
returns  with  his  most  current  and 
solid  film  since  The  English  Patient. 
Set  in  inner-city  London  at  King's 
Cross — where  all  manner  of  social 
and  cultural  collisions  transpire — 
Breaking  and  Entering  is  the  story  of 
an  architect.  Will  (Jude  Law),  whose 
family  life  is  complicated  by  the  dis- 
tance between  him  and  his  common- 
law  wife  (Robin  Wright-Penn)  and 
her  possibly  autistic  daughter.  After 
his  office  is  repeatedly  burglarized 
by  thieves  with  uncannily  acrobatic 
precision.  Will  leaves  his  family  crisis 
behind  to  survey  the  premises,  and 
manages  to  pursue  and  catch  one 
of  the  culprits,  a  teenaged  Bosnian 
refugee  named  Miro  (Rafi  Gavron). 
Instead  of  turning  his  captive  into 
the  police,  Will  is  intrigued  by  the 
young  Miro  and  his  well-meaning 
mother  (Juliette  Binoche).  This  new 
relationship  with  Miro  and  his  mum 
force  Will  to  embark  on  further  explo- 
rations into  the  dark  recesses  of  his 
own  mind.  Breaking  and  Entering  is 
an  intelligent  and  endearing  allegory 
of  building  relationships  in  a  com- 
munity that's  demographically  con- 
gested, yet  at  the  same  time  socially 
disparate.  Emotionally  invested  per- 
formances from  an  ensemble  cast 
make  this  film  likely  to  steal  some 
spotlights  come  awards  season. 

Rating:  VWvV 
CATCH  A  FIRE 

Director:  Philip  Noyce 

Philip  Noyce's  apartheid  thriller  Catch 
A  Fire  doesn't  so  much  recall  his  pre- 
vious festival  hits  (Rabbit-Proof  Fence 
and  The  Quiet  American},  but  reminds 
us  that  the  same  man  agreed  to  shoot 
Patriot  Games  and  Clear  and  Present 
Danger.  The  harrowing  tale,  based  on 
the  true  story  of  Patrick  Chamusso,  is 
adapted  by  Noyce  and  screenwriter 
Shawn  Slovo  into  an  explosive  ac- 
tion flick  that  plainly  suffers  from  its 
anemic  characters.  Derek  Luke  plays 
Chamusso,  an  apolitical  foreman  at  a 
South  African  refinery.  When  African 
National  Congress  militants  bomb 
the  refinery  he  works  at,  Chamusso 
is  wrongfully  arrested  as  the  prime 
suspect.  While  under  arrest,  Cha- 
musso falls  into  the  hands  of  Nic  Vos 
(Tim  Robbins),  a  brutal  colonel  who 
oversees  the  torture  and  interroga- 


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tion  of  the  prisoners.  Vos  increases 
the  stakes  in  this  case  by  also  tor- 
turing Chamusso's  wife  for  answers, 
a  move  that  simply  triggers  further 
retaliation  from  the  innocent  man. 
While  Noyce's  film  is  a  solid  thriller 
with  political  intent  and  (like  every 
second  movie  nowadays)  packs  allu- 
sions to  the  post-9/11  American  land- 
scape, the  screenplay  fails  to  develop 
the  majority  of  its  characters  beyond 
two-dimensional  sketches — particu- 
larly Chamusso  whose  transition  into 
a  rebel  is  a  lost  opportunity  in  this 
film.  The  only  exception  is  Tim  Rob- 
bins'  trip-wired  Vos,  a  conflicted  vil- 
lain who  vehemently  believes  that  his 
sinister  actions  are  for  an  honourable 
cause.  With  less  than  half  the  screen 
time,  Robbins'  character  delivers 
what  Luke's  cannot.  So  while  Noyce 
maintains  steady  direction  over  Slo- 
vo's  thin  screenplay,  it's  Tim  Robbins 
that  keeps  this  Fire  crackling. 

Rating:  VWW 
GOLDEN  DOOR 

Director:  Emanuele  Crialese 

It's  a  long  crawl  to  America  for  the  Si- 
cilian immigrants  in  Golden  Door,  and 
the  audience  is  made  to  suffer  every 
painstaking  moment  of  it  along  with 
them.  The  story  of  a  family  of  work- 
ers who  buy  into  tall  tales  from  across 
the  Atlantic  of  canoe-sized  carrots, 
rivers  of  milk,  and  money  that  grows 
on  trees.  Golden  Door  traces  every 
step  from  tense  moments  of  inde- 
cision in  Italy  to  their  final  tests  at 
American  customs.  The  film,  which 
delves  into  the  false  pretences  that 
built  America  at  the  turn  of  the  twen- 
tieth century,  has  fleeting  moments 
of  odd  amusement  scattered  along 
a  narrative  that  is  stretched  far  be- 
yond its  merit.  However,  it  should  be 
noted  that  the  dedicated  ensemble 
cast  does  try  their  hardest  to  fight 
the  boredom  of  the  plot,  especially 
Charlotte  Gainsbourg  (the  charming 
actress  from  21  Grams  and  The  Sci- 
ence of  Sleep)  who  delivers  precious 
relief  when  she  enters  the  film  play- 
ing a  gold-digging  mistress.  While  pa- 
tient audiences  may  stay  and  endure 
the  slim  pickings  this  film  has  to  offer, 
the  golden  door  for  most  should  be 
the  one  below  the  exit  sign. 

Rating:  WWV 
KING  AND  THE  CLOWN 

Director:  Lee  Jun-ki 

A  box  office  smash  in  its  native  South 
Korea,  this  outlandish  tragicomedy 
set  during  the  Joseon  dynasty  boasts 
the  vibrant  cinematography  and  fan- 
tastic aerial  feats  typical  in  Asian  cin- 
ema, but  is  ultimately  far  too  asinine 
to  truly  impress.  Adapted  from  the 
diaries  of  a  sixteenth-century  tyrant, 
King  and  the  Clown  is  the  tale  of  two 
homosexual  jesters,  one  of  them  a  eu- 
nuch, who  are  arrested  for  staging  a 
production  that  satirizes  the  throne. 
After  narrowly  avoiding  a  death  sen- 
tence upon  the  discovery  that  the  fa- 
natical King  is  actually  amused  by  the 
self-deprecating  humour  the  clowns 
are  ordered  to  keep  the  spoofs  com- 
ing but  with  an  ever-increasing  dose 
of  danger.  This  bizarre  employ- 
ment begins  to  take  its  toll  when  the 
clowns'  relationship  is  threatened  by 
the  King's  obsession  with  the  excep- 
tionally feminine  eunuch.  Though 
the  acrobatic  stunt  work  and  rich  set 
pieces  are  a  pleasing  distraction,  the 
film  suffers  from  stage  humour  that  is 
either  lost  on  this  foreign  audience  or 
is  just  plain  lame. 

Rating:  WWV 

The  Toronto  International  Film  Festival 
runs  at  theatres  across  the  city  until 
Saturday  September  IB.  For  more  info  go 
to  wm.e.bell.ca/filmfest 


review@thevarsity.ca 


VARSITY  ARTS  &  ENTERTAINMENT 


MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  11, 2006    1 1 


Hart  House  inhales 


Reefer  Madness  kicks  off  a  budding  season  of  particularly  potent  theatre 


Jordan  Bimm 

ARTS  EDITOR 


As  one  of  the  best  artistic  assets 
located  on  U  of  T's  campus,  Hart 
House  Theatre  is  about  to  spark 
up  its  72nd  season  of  programming 
since  first  opening  its  doors  way 
back  in  1919.  Originally  dubbed 
the  Art  Deco  Theatre,  Hart  House 
quickly  rose  to  the  forefront  of  the 
"little  theatre"  movement  in  Cana- 
da. Back  then,  the  "little  theatre" 
ideal  was  to  offer  an  independent 
and  intelligent  alternative  to  the 
unrefined  and  mass-produced  pro- 
fessional shows  of  the  day,  some- 
thing Hart  House  has  been  excel- 
ling at  ever  since. 

After  a  break  in  the  late  eighties 
and  ninties  Hart  House  Theatre  re- 
launched in  2001  with  a  renewed 
ordinance  to  produce  a  full  sea- 
son of  professional  quality  shows, 
drawing  on  a  broad  mix  of  tal- 
ent from  the  U  of  T  student  body, 
young  professionals,  and  experi- 
enced stage  veterans.  After  five 
groundbreaking  years  Hart  House 
continues  to  push  its  own  bound- 
aries and  entertain  theatergoers 
and  students  alike. 

This  year's  season  kicks  off  on 
September  15  with  the  Canadian 
Premiere  of  Reefer  Madness,  the 


hit  2005  musical  based  on  the  fa- 
mously exploited  version  of  the 
1936  mental  hygiene  film  Tell  Your 
Children. 

Recently  adapted  into  a  TV  fea- 
ture for  U.S.  cable  network  Show- 
case, this  production  of  Reefer 
Madness  will  be  the  first  to  inte- 
grate script  changes  made  for  the 
small  screen  back  into  the  stage 
version.  Reefer  writer  Kevin  Mur- 
phy, who's  also  a  co-executive  pro- 
ducer on  Desperate  Housewives, 
will  be  in  the  audience  on  opening 
night  to  see  what  this  Canadian 
cast  can  bring  to  a  story  laced  with 
American  taboos. 

Directed  by  Hart  House  veteran 
and  recent  U  of  T  graduate  Elenna 
Mosoff  (who  brought  us  last  year's 
romp  The  Rocky  Horror  Show), 
Reefer  Madness  tells  the  story  of 
two  squeaky-clean  teenaged  sweet- 
hearts, Jimmy  Harper  and  Mary 
Lane,  who  while  visiting  a  jazz  club 
fall  victim  to  the  evils  of  reefer,  the 
demon  weed.  After  taking  one  hit 
off  a  cannabis  "joint",  Jimmy  turns 
into  a  miniature  Charlie  Sheen  and 
basically  destroys  everything  he 
touches  in  an  insane,  drug-fueled 
orgy  of  violence. 

"The  journey  of  the  show  is  like 
a  giant  drug  trip,"  Mosoff  explains 
during  a  break  in  rehearsals,  "and 


it's  about  how  the  government 
tries  to  control  the  minds  of  a  na- 
tion." Of  course,  this  puts  Mosoff 
in  a  unique  position  given  that  the 
Canadian  outlook  on  ganja  is  mark- 
edly more  relaxed  than  that  of  our 
American  neighbours. 

"There's  a  whole  new  spin  on 
the  show  because  we  are  the  first 
Canadian  cast  to  do  it,  and  we're 
commenting  as  outsiders."  she 
notes.  "It's  way  less  of  a  taboo 
here.  1  mean  you  can  walk  down 
Bloor  Street  and  light  a  joint.  Hav- 
ing lived  in  America  1  know  it's  not 
the  same." 

This  absence  of  authoritarianism 
north  of  the  border  has  allowed 
this  production  to  make  some  con- 
venient and  fitting  partnerships, 
mainly  with  local  head  shop  The 
Friendly  Stranger,  that  has  donated 
the  smoking  supplies  which  will  be 
featured  during  the  show's  15-day 
stay  at  Hart  House. 

"We  have  tabulated  that  we  need 
over  650  joints  for  the  run,"  Mosoff 
proudly  boasts,  "and  everyone's 
pitching  in  on  the  rolling". 

Reefer  Madness  runs  from  September 
15  tltrougl)  30  at  Hart  House  Ttieatre 
with  a  special  midnigtit  show  on 
September  30.  For  ticl^ets  call  UofT 
Tlx  at  418-978-8849. 


Reefer  Madness  director  Elenna  Mosoff  is  no  stranger  to  the  "demon  weed" 


Hart  House  Theatre  presents 


Music  by  Dan  snidney  -  lyrics  Hy  Kevin  Murphy 
Boolt  by  Kevin  Murpby  &  Dan  Studney 
Directed  by  Eienna  Mosoff 


^^^^^^^^^^2222^  SEPT  15  -  30, 2006 

^^WWW.HaRTHOUSETHEJlTRE.CA 

^"^m  TB  Meloehe  Monnex  ^j^gVARSITY   /fSCk^  BOX  OFFICE 


HAKT 


gild  NOW       It  m 


■&\TJHWRtTJH:auSEl 


12  MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  11, 2006 


The  Varsity 


Wheee  in  the  Woeld 

IMAGINE  THE  FOSSIBILITIES ... 


memphis 

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around 


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v,  iusli  guitai's  c" 


■itely  gorg^ 


Date:     Monday  September  25^  '2oo6 
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Place:   ][nternatlonal  Student  Centre 
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Quality  In  Everything  We  Do 

14  MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  11, 2006 


VARSITY  SPORTS 


sports@thevarsity.ca 


//SPORTS  IN  BRIEF 


Women's  soccer  continues 
undefeated  season 

Behind  a  two-goal  performance  by 
forward  Melanie  Seabra,  women's 
soccer  nipped  Nipissing  3-2  yes- 
terday at  Bircfimount  stadium.  The 
Blues  (2-0-2)  opened  the  match 
with  a  two-goal  lead  thanks  to 
Lindsay  Lashley's  strike,  followed 
shortly  after  with  Seabra's  first.  But 
the  Lakers  (0-4)  mounted  a  come- 
back with  Nicole  O'Brien  finding 
the  net  at  the  end  of  the  first  half, 
and  Vanessa  Baxter  tying  it  at  two- 
all  in  the  second.  Seabra  went  on 
to  ice  the  game  with  her  third  goal 
in  four  games,  helping  the  Blues 
keep  pace  in  the  OUA  East.  At  eight 
points,  U  of  T  is  tied  with  Ottawa, 
as  both  trail  Queen's  by  one  point 
in  the  race  for  the  division  lead. 

The  Blues  face  Ryerson  Sunday 
in  a  rematch  of  last  Saturday's  sea- 
son opener.  The  Lashley  and  Sea- 
bra combo  led  U  of  T  again  as  they 
both  notched  goals  late  in  the  sec- 
ond half  for  a  2-0  victory  over  the 
Rams  at  De  La  Salle  College. 

The  five-goal  total  from  yester- 
day's match  was  an  deluge  com- 
pared to  the  previous  two  games 
played  by  the  Blues,  both  0-0  draws 
against  Laurentian  and  Trent. 
-CHRISTOPHE  POIRIER 

Blues  dominate  OUA 
East 

Men's  soccer  (4-0)  continues  to 
lead  the  OUA  East  pack,  as  their 
12  points  give  them  a  five-point 
edge  over  their  closest  competi- 
tor. Queen's.  Next  up  for  the  unde- 
feated squad:  they  host  a  rematch 
against  Ryerson  on  Sunday,  who 
the  Blues  dispatched  1-0  in  last 
Saturday's  season  opener. 

Under  an  eleven-shot  barrage, 
the  Blues  defeated  Nipissing  3-0 
yesterday  with  goals  by  Evan  Mil- 
ward,  Mario  Nallira  and  Alexander 
Raphael.  Raphael  also  scored  the 
lone  goal  in  the  Blues'  1-0  win  over 
Laurentian  Saturday  at  Birchmount 
Stadium. 
-CP 

Losing  streak  to  break? 

Football  will  come  across  its  best 
chance  to  attain  its  first  victory  in 
five  years  as  the  team  plays  hosts 
to  Waterloo  (0-2)  this  Saturday. 
The  home  opener  for  the  Blues  (0- 
2)  will  be  at  Birchmount  Stadium  at 
1:00.  The  Warriors  have  been  out- 
scored  102-11  this  season,  and  are 
coming  off  a  60-9  loss  to  McMaster 
two  days  ago.  In  their  season  open- 
er, Waterloo  was  pinned  for  a  42-2 
loss  to  Windsor. 

The  very  same  Lancer  team  ran- 
sacked the  Blues  Saturday,  drop- 
ping U  of  T  to  the  bitter  tune  of  a 
61-17  defeat.  The  game  was  placed 
out  of  reach  in  the  first  quarter,  as 
four  Windsor  touchdowns  capped 
with  a  safety  had  them  at  a  30-3 
lead  after  fifteen  minutes. 
-CP 


Cloudy  crystal  ball  yields 
future  of  NFL  season 

Michael  Vick  gets  traded,  Shaun  Alexander  explodes,  and  Adam  Vinatieri's  true  colours 


After  an  epic  game  in  week  nine,  a  rabid  Tom  Brady  still  manages  to  get  the  upper  hand  over  the  Indianaplois  Colts.  Poor  Peyton  never  saw  it  coming. 


Danielle  Berger 


Prognosticating  the  season  is  a 
piece  of  cake,  especially  if  you  do 
it  with  a  twist.  As  the  National  Foot- 
ball League  gets  underway,  the  fol- 
lowing will  happen  over  the  course 
of  the  season. 

1 .  Reggie  Bush  and  Michael  Vick  will 
be  traded  for  each  other,  and  no  one 
will  know  the  difference. 

2.  Fed  up  with  his  constant  whining. 
Drew  Bledsoe  will  challenge  Terrell 
Owens  to  a  duel.  Angered  by  his 


lack  of  balls,  T.O.  will  accept.  The 
two  will  kill  each  other  using  a  me- 
dieval mace,  a  large  tuna,  and  sheer 
wit.  Coach  Bill  Parcells  will  watch 
with  a  knowing  grin,  and  then  eat  a 
dankalicious  Tex-Mex  burrito. 
3.  Shaun  Alexander,  a  victim  of  the 
Madden  2006  video-game  cover  jinx 
and  the  jinx  of  being  the  best  player 
on  the  losing  team  of  the  previous 
Super  Bowl,  will  spontaneously 
combust  after  dropping  a  Matt  Has- 
selbeck  pass.  Coach  Mike  Holmgren 
will  complain  to  an  official. 


4.  Tired  of  watching  the  poor  quar- 
terbacking  of  Oakland's  Aaron 
Brooks  and  Denver's  Jake  Plummer, 
a  hungry  John  Madden  will  eat  a  de- 
lectable Al  Michaels  after  Michaels 
fails  to  see  the  folly  of  it  all. 

5.  In  the  waning  seconds  of  week 
nine's  epic  game  between  Indianap- 
olis and  New  England,  kicker  Adam 
Vinatieri  will  line  up  for  the  poten- 
tial game-winning  field  goal,  take  a 
deep  breath... and  rip  off  his  Colts 
jersey  to  reveal  a  Patriots  jersey  he 
had  been  wearing  all  along!  He  will 


purposely  shank  the  kick  and  run 
in  to  the  cheering  throngs  of  fans, 
as  a  rabid  Tom  Brady  bludgeons  an 
unsuspecting  Peyton  Manning  with 
Marvin  Harrison. 

6.  The  Eagles  will  win  the  Super 
Bowl.  Citizens  of  Philadelphia  will 
have  no  idea  how  cope  with  the  loss 
of  perennial  losing,  and  in  retalition 
the  city  will  outlaw  cheesesteaks. 
The  move  makes  Libertyville  the 
healthiest  city  in  the  U.S.A. 

7.  Toronto  will  inherit  the  Buffalo 
Bills.  Buffalo  will  rejoice. 


A  trip  back  to  Monday  Night  Mayhem 


Tonight  marks  the  season  kick- 
off  of  the  Monday  Night  Foot- 
ball regime,  the  second-longest 
running  show  in  television  history, 
trailing  only  60  Minutes.  While  the 
show  moves  from  its  35-year  spot  on 
ABC  to  its  rookie  season  on  ESPN,  it 
has  left  a  lasting  legacy  upon  sports, 
television  and  North  American  cul- 
ture. In  its  long  and  illustrious  career, 
Monday  Night  announcers  have  come 
and  gone,  from  the  forgettable  run  of 
comedian  Dennis  Miller  to  Hall-of- 
Fame  coach  John  Madden.  Here  are 
two  stories  from  when  play-by-play 
man  Keith  Jackson,  former  Dallas 
Cowboy  quarterback  Don  Meredith, 
and  the  ever-popular  Howard  Cosell 
manned  the  booth  in  the  show's  first 
season,  back  in  1970.  Their  colourful 
personalities  and  constant  antics  ce- 
mented the  show's  place  in  annals  of 


sport  TV. 

Cosell  gets  tanked 

On  a  frosty  November  23  evening, 
the  Monday  Night  team  was  in  Phil- 
adelphia broadcasting  live  as  the 
Eagles  took  on  the  New  York  Giants. 
As  a  welcome  token  of  his  esteem. 
Eagles  owner  Leonard  Tose  sent  up 
a  generous  jug  of  vodka  martinis.  Co- 
sell,  who  was  freezing  in  the  open-air 
TV  booth,  started  knocking  back  the 
refreshments  in  order  to  keep  warm. 
He  apparently  drank  too  much,  as  by 
the  end  of  the  first  quarter  he  began 
slurring  his  words,  with  Philadelphia 
becoming  "Full-a-dull-fa."  Right  be- 
fore half  time,  Cosell  pitched  forward 
and  vomited. 

"He  got  sick  in  the  booth,  all  over 
his  mike,  his  clothes,  and  on  my 
boots,"   Meredith   recalls.  Cosell 


would  remain  in  the  game,  but  phone 
boards  lit  up  with  inquiring  calls  in 
ABC's  studio  call  centre.  The  inci- 
dent was  just  the  boost  the  fledgling 
show  needed,  as  rumors  of  Cosell 
getting  bombed  spread  the  show's 
reputation  of  being  absolute  may- 
hem on  Monday  night. 

Cosell  sets  pants  on  fire 

Covering  a  game  in  Dallas,  Cosell 
discarded  his  cigarette  into  a  trash 
container  under  the  booth's  table. 
The  still-lit  butt  kicked  up  and  set 
fire  to  the  paper  debris  within  the 
can,  setting  aflame  Jackson's  pants. 
The  consummate  professional,  Jack- 
son continued  announcing  the  series 
of  plays  as  his  pants  burned,  eventu- 
ally putting  the  blaze  out  once  they 
cut  to  a  commercial. 
—CHRISTOPHE  POIRIER 


Howard  Cosell  enjoys  his  fine  cigar. 


The  Varsity 


MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  11, 2006  15 


ROYAL  CANADIAN  MOUNTED  POLICE  •  GENDARMERIE  ROYALE  DU  CANADA"" 


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OMSAS  www.ouac.on.ca/omsas/ 
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MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  18, 2006i 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  TORONTO'S  STUDENT  NEWSPAPER  SINCE  1880 


VOL.  CXXVII,  NO.  7 


AT  QUEEN'S,  THE  RIOT  THAT  WASN'T 


Mike  Ghenu 

NEWS  EDITOR 


KINGSTON  —  They  came,  they  drank,  they 
partied. 

But  although  the  crowds  surpassed  last 
year's,  between  the  conspicuous  police  pres- 
ence, the  legions  of  red-hatted  community 
volunteers,  and  an  administration  advertising 
blitz  warning  students  that  "it's  your  degree 
that's  getting  trashed,"  homecoming  celebra- 
tions at  Queen's  University  this  weekend  were 
far  more  subdued. 

One  big  reason  was  the  Queen's  community 
volunteers,  said  Ryan  Quinlan  Keech,  the  mu- 
nicipal affairs  commissioner  on  Queen's  Alma 
Mater  Society  (AMS),  the  main  student  gov- 
ernment there.  Around  five  hundred  red  hats 
patrolled  Queen's  so-called  student  ghetto  on 
Saturday  night,  he  said. 

"The  police  were  able  to  focus  on  the  bigger 
picture,"  said  Quinlan  Keech,  as  a  result  of  the 
volunteers'  efforts.  They  carried  red  plastic 
cups,  which  they  gave  to  students  to  empty 
their  glass  beer  bottles  into,  which  they  then 
collected.  The  volunteers  were  Queen's  alum 
of  all  ages,  including  many  old-timers  sport- 
ing well-worn  leather  jackets. 

Last  fall,  Queen's  homecoming  had  made 
headlines  when  a  street  party  on  Aberdeen 
Street  in  the  heart  of  Queen's  so-called  "stu- 
dent ghetto"  went  haywire.  The  party  degen- 
erated into  a  bout  of  bottle-throwing  in  which 
police  and  paramedics  got  pelted.  Rowdy  rev- 
elers then  overturned  a  car  and  set  it  ablaze. 
Dozens  were  arrested. 

This  year,  AMS  successfully  lobbied  the  city 
of  Kingston  to  close  down  Aberdeen  Street 
for  the  party.  A  first  aid  station  was  set  up  at 
one  end,  and  a  volunteer  hub  was  set  up  on 
the  front  lawn  of  the  only  house  on  the  street 
where  students  don't  live. 

Queen's  administration  printed  posters 
and  took  out  ads  with  slogans  such  as  "Keep 
Queen's  reputation  out  of  the  gutter."  First- 
years  in  residence  were  banned  from  having 
frosh  friends  from  other  universities  visit 
them  during  homecoming  weekend.  Yet  ad- 
ministrators also  stressed  that  while  the  uni- 
versity would  not  strive  to  control  students' 
behaviour,  it  would  try  to  inform  them  of  the 
consequences. 

Still,  some  in  Kingston  thought  this  year's 
celebrations  would  be  even  worse. 


IB'? 


,  Qurors  UNivERsnrl  1  ^ 

r  ii  Tnl:r:> 


The  "limestone  city"  or  Canada's  yob  town? 
The  map  above  shows  the  main  thoroughfares 
where  homecoming  takes  place.  At  right,  a  group 
of  Queen's  students  partake  in  a  game  of  flip  cup,  a 
relay  drinking  game. 


At  8  p.m.  on  Saturday  evening,  a  group  of  students  on  University  Avenue  kick  off  a  night  of  drinking  by 
subjecting  one  of  their  comrades  to  a  so-called  keg  stand.  The  drinker's  legs  are  held  aloft  while  beer  flows 
from  the  keg  straight  into  their  mouth.  Meanwhile,  the  bearers  count  the  time  spent  doing  the  stand.  Thirty 
seconds  ain't  bad... 


"They're  gonna  do  whatever  it  takes  to 
make  it  bigger  than  it  was  last  year,"  said  a 
cab  driver  on  Friday  night.  "I've  been  doing 
this  for  20  years  and  every  year  you  can  see 
it  progressing." 

And  Saturday's  party  began  early,  with 
Queen's  famed  pancake  keggers.  Starting 
around  10  a.m.  at  locations  scattered  through- 
out the  student  neighbourhood,  students  were 
double-fisting  beers  and  pancakes. 

This  lasted  until  noon,  when  police  broke 
up  at  least  one  of  the  keggers.  Attention  then 
shifted  to  the  football  game  until  around  5 
p.m.,  when  students  returned  home,  fired  up 
barbecues,  and  began  to  drink. 

As  night  fell,  Aberdeen  Street,  closed  to 
traffic  since  the  afternoon,  was  crawling  with 
volunteers  and  police  officers — from  both  the 
Kingston  Police  and  the  OPP.  A  Video  Servic- 
es Unit  van  was  parked  at  its  south  end,  and 
police  cruisers  and  paddy  wagons  regularly 
coursed  around  the  student  neighbourhood. 

Although  officers  issued  tickets  to  those 
they  caught  with  open  alcohol  on  the  street, 
they  mostly  engaged  passersby,  sometimes 
posing  with  them  for  photos. 

Groups  of  cops  also  patrolled  the  streets  on 
foot.  And  a  throng  of  them  formed  a  line  at  the 
north  end  of  Aberdeen  Street,  near  a  house 
dubbed  "the  mansion,"  where  much  of  the 
violence  had  erupted  last  year. 

"This  is  a  kindergarden  version  of  what  hap- 
pened last  year,"  remarked  Tony  O'Neill,  a 
fourth-year  student  from  Carleton  University 
who  was  at  his  second  homecoming.  O'Neill 
found  the  police  less  confrontational  than  in 
2005,  and  said  that  the  city  of  Kingston  had 
done  a  really  good  job  of  keeping  partiers  un- 
der control,  while  still  making  it  fun  for  stu- 
dents. 

It  is  estimated  that  around  40  partiers  were 
arrested  on  Saturday  night.  The  AMS's  Quin- 
lan Keech  reckoned  there  were  7,000  to  10,000 
of  them  at  homecoming,  with  a  significant  pro- 
portion— perhaps  up  to  half,  he  speculated — 
coming  from  as  far  afield  as  McGill,  Western, 
and  U  of  T. 

The  weekend  celebrations,  meanwhile, 
made  for  brisk  business  in  Kingston.  All  but 
one  of  the  hotels  in  town  were  full  on  Saturday 
night,  according  to  another  cab  driver. 

"I  never  saw  one  taxi  sheet  under  $600  yes- 
terday," he  said.  "That's  a  lot  for  one  cab  to 
take  in  in  ten  or  11  hours." 


TIFF  2006: 
THE  STARS, 
THE 

GLAMOUR 

//  P.  7. 


2   MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  18, 2006 


VARSITY  NEWS 


HART  HOUSE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  TORONTO 


6^ 

West  Entrance, 
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Your  student  centre! 


INTUIT  WEDNESDAYS 

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Same  time.  Same  place. 
Unlimited  opportunities. 


MUSICAL  AUDITIONS 
SIGN-UPS  ~  OPEN  REHEARSALS 

Let  your  musical  talents  shine  . . . 

Chorus  auditions  -  Sept.  18  &  19 
Singers  sign-up  -  Sept.  !8  &  25 
Jazz  Choir  open  rehearsal  -  Sept.  18 
Jazz  Ensemble  open  rehearsal/auditions  -  Sept.  1 8  &  i  9 
Symphonic  Band  open  rehearsal/auditions  -  Sept.  19,22-24 

Orchestra  open  rehearsal/auditions  -  Sept.  2  i ,  23-25 
For  times/locations  check  our  web  site  or  call  4j6.978.24S2 


HART  HOUSE  ANNUAL 
YARD  SALE 

Sept.  1 9  from  II  AM  to  3PM  in  the  Great  Hall 

Purchase  a  piece  of  Hart  House  history! 
Dishes,  glasses,  cutlery,  old  records,  furniture... 
AND  MORE! 
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INTHEJUSTINAM. 
BARNICKE  GALLERY 

Stephen  Andrews:  Seiected  works  from  tl- 
Saiah  J.  Bachir  Colleciion. 
This  exhibition  represents  a  vital  cross- 
section  of  the  artist's  socially  conscious 
art  works. 
Runs  until  Oct.  9th 


For  more  Hart  House 
events  visit 

www.harthouse.ca 

416.978.2452 


the  architecture  of  ideas,  people  and  places 


//NEWS  IN  BRIEF 


Dallalre  compares  Darfur 
to  Rwanda 

Student  activists  from  Hillel,  STAND 
(Students  Take  Action  Now  for  Dar- 
fur), and  War  Child  Canada  took  to 
the  stage  at  Ramsden  Park  in  down- 
town Toronto  for  a  Global  Day  for 
Darfur. 

The  rally  marked  the  first  anniver- 
sary of  U.N.  signing  the  "responsibil- 
ity to  protect"  doctrine,  which  urges 


the  international  community  to  take 
collective  action  to  protect  their 
populations  from  genocide,  ethnic 
cleansing  and  crimes  against  human- 
ity. 

Calling  the  Darfur  crisis  "a  carbon 
copy  of  the  Rwanda  genocide,"  re- 
tired Gen.  Romeo  Dallaire,  one  of  the 
keynote  speakers,  urged  Canadian 
youth  to  "be  prepared  to  support 
the  efforts  in  Darfur."  Dallaire  said 
Canadian  youth  must  move  human 


YEAR   OF   LANGUAGES   20  06    -  2007 

Faculty  of  Arts  and  Science  Speaker  Series 

u  N  Tv  Y  r  s  Pr 


The  Interpreter's  Maladies:  Culture,  Gender 
and  Race  in  16th  Century  Colonial  South  Africa 

.4n  exploration  of  how  to  interpret  multilingualism  and  language 
exchange  when  viewed  in  the  context  of  the  colonial  encounter,  with 
a  foam  on  the  life  ofKrotoa,  the  first  Christian  interpreter  of  the 
Khoikhoi  in  16th  century  colonial  South  Africa. 

Ato  Quayson 

Professor  of  English  and  Director,  Centre  for  Diaspora 
and  Transnational  Studies,  University  of  Toronto 


Thursday,  September  2 1 , 2006  •  4:30  p.m. 
George  Ignatieff  Theatre,  15  Devonshire  Place 

Free  Admission  •  Genera!  Seating  •  Call  4 1 6-946-7950  or 
visit  www.artsci.utoronto.ca/languages  for  more  information. 


)- ACUITY 

•  \Rrs  i<. 

'  ^'  .  rl.il  ,  Y 


Presented  b>  the  Facult>  of  Arts  and  Science 
at  the  University  of  Toronlo. 


Retired  Gen.  Romeo  Dallaire  speaks  at 
Sunday's  Darfur  rally 

rights  beyond  our  borders  and  set 
the  "yardsticks  beyond  our  own  per- 
sonal needs." 

Dallaire  insisted  that  "as  citizens 
of  the  world"  we  must  take  action 
against  the  bellicose  Sudanese  gov- 
ernment. The  event  closed  with  mu- 
sic from  Bedouin  Soundclash.  Thirty- 
two  other  cities  including  New  York, 
Kigali,  Paris,  and  Copenhagen  also 
held  demonstrations  to  bring  an  end 
to  the  Darfur  crisis. 
-HAYLEY  MORRISON 


//CORRECTION 

In  Thursday's  issue  (Your  parents'  car 
it  ain't,  Sept.  14)  we  mis-identified 
Zipcar  marl<eting  manager  Saut  Colt 
as  fourth-year  student  David  Lee  in  the 
photograph  accompanying  the  article. 
The       regrets  the  error. 


ilNE  THE  POSSfflILm 


< 

(A 

O 


1^ 


Date:    Monday  September  25,  2oo6 
Time:   10am  —  3pm 
Place:   Mteraatiomial  Student  Centre 
33  St.  Georg'e  St 

Please  stop  by,  all  are  welcome. 


Organizations  will  be  on  Campus  to  answer  your  <|uestions,  come  out  and 
visit  thesr  booths.  Confirmed  participants  include,  JET,  EDUFrance, 
Right  to  Play,  DAAD  (German  Academic  Exchange)  and  many  more. .. 
Travel  CUTS  will  also  be  offering  several  exciting  door  prizes  for  travel !! 
For  more  information,  please  contact:  isc.information@utoronto.ca  or 
visit  www.isc.utoronto.ca 


news@thevarsity.ca 


VARSITY  NEWS 


MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  18, 2006 


3 


What's  making  headlines 
on  other  Canadian 
campuses 

Student  union  may  face 
impeachment 

Computers  have  been  confiscated  at 
Simon  Frasier  University  in  an  investi- 
gation that  may  become  the  next  big 
scandal  in  Canadian  campus  politics. 
The  fracas  involves  the  elected  direc- 
tors of  the  Simon  Fraser  Students  So- 
ciety (SFSS),  who  may  be  impeached 
in  coming  weeks. 

Controversy  was  sparked  last 
month  when  the  SFSS  suspended  six 
members  and  fired  one  who  had  been 
employed  loyally  for  nearly  25  years. 
Rallying  behind  the  fired  employee, 
SFU  students  launched  a  movement, 
called  Students  for  a  Democratic  Soci- 
ety (SDU),  which  aims  to  impeach  all 
seven  elected  SFSS  board  members. 

In  an  interview,  SDU  spokesperson 
Bryan  Jones  noted  that  "the  board 
has  raised  $15,000  dollars  to  support 
its  legal  council".  Recently,  directors 
of  the  SFSS  board  "were  seen  confis- 
cating computers,"  which  Jones  spec- 
ulated was  part  of  a  legal  battle  to 
"save  their  positions  on  the  board." 

The  SDU  has  been  vigorously  post- 
ing signs  across  campus  to  stoke  stu- 
dent discontent.  In  a  statement  last 
week,  the  SDU  said  it  has  gathered 
2,500  signatures,  enough  to  enable 
them  to  call  for  a  special  meeting  of 
the  SFSS  within  30  days. 

Hostilities  have  now  erupted,  and 


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a  source  speaking  to  The  Varsity  un- 
der condition  of  anonymity  claimed 
to  have  spotted  SFSS  members  tear- 
ing down  signs  across  campus.  Signs 
have  also  been  posted  slandering 
SDU  members,  but  their  author  is  not 
yet  known.  Copies  of  The  Peak — a 
campus  newspaper  that  has  been 
covering  the  situation — have  also 
been  torn  down. 

Impeachment  proceedings  are 
rare  and  have  only  occurred  once  at 
SFU,  in  1996,  when  the  an  SFSS  direc- 
tor got  impeached  in  a  pornography 
scandal. 

-WILLIAM  WALKER 


//CRIME  REPORT:  SEPT.  1-15; 


Roughly  60  incidents  were  formally 
reported  to  the  University  of  To- 
ronto Police  in  the  last  two  weeks, 
a  notable  increase  from  the  sum- 
mer months  when  an  average  of  90 
incidents  occurred  per  month.  The 
majority  of  the  responses  dealt 
with  theft  or  attempted  theft  (25), 
and  suspicious  or  unwanted  per- 
sons trespassing  or  causing  other 
mischief  (16).  Nine  medical  calls 
were  also  attended  to. 

Eight  bicycles  were  stolen  during 
the  two-week  period,  all  at  differ- 


ent locations  across  campus. 

Of  the  16  unwanted  persons  dealt 
with  on  St.  George  campus,  one 
was  intoxicated,  seven  trespassed 
or  caused  damage  to  property,  five 
were  removed  for  harassment,  one 
was  involved  in  a  break-and-enter, 
one  was  seen  throwing  eggs,  and 
one  was  involved  in  a  level-one  as- 
sault that  occurred  at  the  Architec- 
ture Building. 

Strange  or  unique  incidents  on 
campus  during  the  past  weeks  in- 
cluded two  incidents  of  fraud  at 


the  U  of  T  Bookstore  on  Sept.  15, 
where  students  attempted  to  use 
counterfeit  currency  or  a  fraudu- 
lent credit  card  to  pay  for  their  new 
textbooks- 

On  Sept.  6,  a  bomb  threat  was 
called  in  for  Emmanuel  College,  and 
the  Toronto  Police  were  involved ; 
in  the  investigation,  which  turned  : 
up  negative  results.  Prank  or  oth-  ' 
erwise,  it  seems  that  nothing  can 
stop  the  school  year  from  starting 
up  again  right  on  schedule. 
— AMYSMITHERS 


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7:30  pm 

George  Ignatieff  Theatre,  15  Devonshire  Place 

FREE  ADMISSION  •  GENERAL  SEATING  •  DOORS  OPEN  AT  6:30  RM. 


For  more  information,  visit  www.artsci.utoronto.ca  or  call  (416)  946-S937. 


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A 


4   MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  18, 2006 


The  Varsity 


The  University  of  Toronto 

Middle  East  History  and  Theory  Workshop  The  Department  of  Near  and  Middle  Eastern  civilizations 

and  the  Department  of  Historical  Studies-UTM  in  collaboration  with  the  Centre  for  Diaspora  and  Transnational  Studies 

present 

Refashioning  the  Arab-Islamic  Worlds 

A  Distinguished  Speaker  Series  on  the  Political  and  Cultural  Transformation  of  the  'Greater  Middle  East' 


A  Public  Lecture 


by 


Michael  C.  Gilsenan 

David  P.  Kriser  Professor  of  the  Humanities 
Opts,  of  IMiddle  East  Studies  and  Social  Anthropology 
New  York  University 

"'We  are  mixed.* 
Fashioning  Aj*ab  identities  between  Hadhramaut 
and  Southeast  Asia  in  the  long  twentieth  century." 

Thursday,  September  21,  2006,  7  p.m. 


by 

Saba  Mahmood 


Assistant  Professor 
Dpts.  of  Social  Anthropology  and  Middle  East  Studies 
University  of  California  at  Berkeley 

On 

"Retooling  Feminism  and  Democracy 
in  the  Service  of  the  New  Empire" 

Thursday,  October  05,  2006,  7  p.m. 


George  Ignatieff  Theatre,  Trinity  College,  15  Devonshire  Place 


The  Middle  East  History  and  Theory  Workshop  would  like  to  acknowledge  the  following  sponsors  at  the  University  of  Toronto:  Centre  for 
Diaspora  and  Transnational  Studies;  Centre  for  Comparative  Literature;  Asia  Institute;  Centre  for  the  Study  of  Religion;  Dpt.  of  Anthropology; 
Bissel-Heyd  Chair  of  American  Studies;  Anti-Racism  and  Cultural  Diversity  Office;  Dean  of  Arts  &  Sciences.  For  further  information,  please 
contact  Jens  Hanssen  jens.hanssen@utoronto.ca,  or  Jennie  Jones  (416)  978  3306 


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opinions@thevarsity.ca 


VARSITY  COMMENT 


MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  18, 2006  5 


Good  can  triumph,  even  after  this  week 


Yesterday  was  a  beautful  day  to  be 
out  and  about  in  Toronto. 

Concerned  citizens  of  all  back- 
grounds, the  bulk  of  them  young 
people,  joined  together  in  Ramsden 
Park  with  a  true  Canadian  hero. 
General  Romeo  Dallaire,  to  call  the 
governments  of  the  world  to  action 
over  the  genocide  in  Darfur. 

On  Church  St.,  marchers  picked 
up  on  the  spirit  of  last  August's  con- 
ference and  kept  the  focus  on  the  ef- 
forts to  fight  HIV  with  the  city's  17th 
annual  AIDS  Walk  for  Life. 

Veterans,  military  personnel,  and 
supportive  Ontarians  unveiled  a 
monument  at  Queen's  Park  honour- 
ing the  sacrifice  and  contribution 
made  by  Canada's  armed  forces 


►  EDITORIAL  - 

past  and  present. 

At  parks  and  schools  across  our 
city  and  throughout  the  world,  mil- 
lions of  people  of  all  ages  and  abili- 
ties gathered  together  to  continue 
Terry  Fox's  courageous  quest  to 
find  a  cure  for  cancer. 

Behind  Trinity  College,  an  intra- 
mural baseball  team  competed  with 
some  soccer  players  for  field  space, 
joshing  back  and  forth  when  their 
games  crossed  paths. 

And  inside  Museum  station,  a 
smiling  TTC  collector  waved  a  uni- 
formed veteran  through  without 
charge. 


There  are  so  many  moments,  large 
and  small,  that  showcase  the  com- 
munity spirit  and  social  awareness 
of  our  city.  These  are  days  when  we 
reaffirm  and  strengthen  our  reputa- 
tion as  Toronto  the  Good. 

Amidst  this  spirit  and  sense  of 
pride,  however,  there  is  sadness 
over  the  recent  shootings  at  Daw- 
son College  in  Montreal.  It  was  sick- 
ening to  read  of  Kimveer  Gill's  ram- 
page, especially  since  we  take  for 
granted  that  universities  like  ours 
are  by  and  large  safe,  welcoming 
places  in  which  to  gather  and  grow. 

As  students  ourselves,  contempo- 
raries of  Anastasia  De  Sousa — who 
died  in  the  shooting — and  those 
recovering  from  their  wounds,  we 


feel  too  keenly  the  lost  potential 
and  wasted  life  that  this  incident 
brought  about. 

Yet  it  does  little  good  to  blame 
violent  video  games,  goth  culture, 
the  media,  and  the  like  for  the  trag- 
edy in  Montreal.  Realistically,  some 
people  have  psychopathic  tenden- 
cies that  no  amount  of  conditioning 
or  therapy  can  diminish. 

It  also  doesn't  help  to  blame  our 
politicians  and  police  for  not  antici- 
pating the  random  act  of  a  pathetic 
man.  Our  enforcement  officers  are 
well-trained  and  intelligent,  but 
they  cannot  be  everywhere.  There 
are  many  sick  people  out  there  who 
threaten  the  same  things  Gill  did 
online  and  never  actually  deliver. 


What  we  as  a  university  commu- 
nity can  do  is  focus  on  the  good  in 
our  country  this  week  as  a  way  to 
counterbalance,  and  indeed  out- 
weigh, the  bad.  We  can  encourage 
our  disengaged  youth  to  join  com- 
munity activities,  on  a  local  or 
grand  scale,  as  a  way  to  connect  to 
those  around  them.  We  can  ensure 
that  whatever  organization  or  so- 
cial group  we  identify  with  is  open 
to  and  active  in  the  community. 
We  can  offer  our  condolences  and 
prayers  to  the  victims  of  violence 
and  terror  everywhere. 

And  we  can  continue  to  strive  for 
what  is  good  and  fruitful  in  our  lives 
and  in  our  world,  not  in  fear  of  the 
evil  around  us,  but  in  spite  of  it. 


Lists  not  worth  the  wait 

Waiting  list  system  needs  tweaking,  ANDREW  JEHAN  tells  admin 


I applaud  the  Arts  and  Science 
administration  for  their  effort 
to  bring  waiting  lists  to  the 
course  enrolment  system.  Sadly, 
however,  because  of  the  overly 
simplistic  design  of  the  new 
system,  the  waiting  lists  have 
failed  to  make  any  significant 
improvement  for  students,  and 
in  some  cases  have  proven  to  be 
a  major  inconvenience.  Allow  me 
to  briefly  recount  how  the  old 
system  functioned  in  order  to 
clarify  how  waiting  lists  ought  to 
have  been  introduced. 

Last  year,  before  waiting  lists, 
students  would  sign  up  for  as 
many  of  their  top  choices  as  they 
could.  Invariably  they  would  be 
unable  to  get  into  all  of  their  top 
five,  and  so  they  would  round  out 
their  five-course  allotment  with 
less  appealing  choices. 

Having  secured  a  full  schedule, 
students  would  then  try  to  im- 
prove upon  their  courses.  They 
would  log  on  to  ROSI  as  often  as 
possible  in  hopes  that  a  space 
had  come  available  in  their  most 
desired  course.  The  lucky  stu- 
dent who  was  online  at  the  right 
moment  would  quickly  drop  one 
of  their  earlier  choices  to  make 
space  for  the  preferred  option. 

This  year,  students  may  no 
longer  need  to  spend  their  days 
monitoring  ROSI,  but  because 
students  cannot  put  themselves 


on  waiting  lists  when  already 
enrolled  in  five  courses,  the  time- 
saving  benefit  comes  at  an  even 
greater  cost. 

As  always,  students  will  be 
unable  to  get  into  all  of  their 
favourite  courses.  Like  before, 
they  may  get  into,  say,  three,  but 
this  year  they  will  have  a  painful 
choice  about  what  to  do  with 
their  remaining  selections. 

Should  students  sign  up  for 
their  less  preferable  choices 
that  still  have  space  available,  or 
should  they  risk  being  put  on  a 
waiting  list  that  may  never  bear 
fruit?  How  long  should  they  sit  on 
the  waiting  list  as  the  start  date 
looms?  And  if  they  don't  get  into 
the  courses  they  are  waiting  for, 
will  the  less-preferred  choices 
still  be  available  later? 

Under  the  new  system,  stu- 
dents who  want  to  secure  a  full 
set  of  five  courses  will  no  longer 
have  the  opportunity  to  improve 
their  selections  because  they 
will  not  be  eligible  for  the  waiting 
lists.  On  the  other  hand,  students 
who  sit  on  waiting  lists  risk  not 
being  able  to  take  a  full  course- 
load. 

The  solution  to  this  problem 
is  quite  simple.  If  a  student  were 
enrolled  in  five  courses,  but 
wished  to  be  on  the  waiting  list 
for  others,  ROSI  could  allow  that 
student  to  select  the  course  (or 


courses)  which  would  be  auto- 
matically dropped  should  the 
student  be  accepted  into  their 
preferred  choice.  This  system 
would  still  be  fully  automated 
(no  need  for  students  to  log  on  to 
ROSI  to  manipulate  their  sched- 
ules) while  continuing  to  prevent 
students  from  being  enrolled  in 
more  than  five  full  courses. 

This  improved  system  would 
also  allow  the  student  to  be  on 
all  of  the  waiting  lists  (up  to  a 
maximum  of  five  full  courses) 
needed  to  produce  their  ideal 
schedule,  while  alleviating  any 
concern  that  they  might  find 
themselves  with  no  good  options 
for  a  full  courseload  once  classes 
begin. 

The  fact  that  classes  would  be 
automatically  dropped  to  make 
space  for  better  ones  would 
spark  a  chain  reaction  of  stu- 
dents getting  into  more  of  their 
preferred  courses.  Students 
would  end  up  being  generally 
happier  with  their  schedules. 

While  it  may  be  too  late  to  cor- 
rect the  current  waiting  list's  flaw 
in  time  for  this  year's  enrolment, 
1  hope  that  the  administration 
considers  my  suggestion  for 
2007-2008. 

Andrew  Jehan  is  a  student  of 
philosophy  at  U  of  T. 


LETTERS 


threat  for  students  who  attend  one  of 
the  safest  universities  in  one  of  the 
safest  cities  in  the  world. 

The  only  difference  between  that 
poll  and  CNN  screaming  about  im- 
minent death  and  destruction  is  that 
they're  doing  it  for  money,  whereas  I 
can't  think  of  any  reason  why  you'd 
set  aside  integrity  and  pump  fear 
Please  stop  before  you  get  addicted 
to  this  type  of  reporting,  like  your 
colleagues  to  the  south  did  a  few 
years  ago. 

Steve  Durant 


Terror!  Death!  Fear! 
Journalism? 

Re:  varsity.ca  online  poll,  Sept.  14 

Congratulations  on  propelling 
yourselves  from  the  realm  of  respect- 
able journalism  into  CNN  and  Fox 
News'  fear-based  journalism.  Your 
web  poll  question  asking  students 
how  safe  they  feel  is  ridiculous  and 
blatant  fear-mongering.  Of  course 
any  journalist  must  have  the  right 
to  ask  any  question  she  or  he  wants, 
but  as  cliched  as  it  sounds,  rights 
actually  do  come  with  responsibili- 
ties. One  of  those  is  to  put  things  in 
context,  which  is  the  opposite  of 
what  you've  done.  If  they  are  taking 
the  time  to  visit  a  website  or  pick 
up  a  print  piece  aimed  at  some  of 
the  brightest  youth  in  Canada,  your 
readers  have  no  time  for  your  capital- 
izing on  recent  9/11  coverage  (which 
itself  is  capitalizing  on  tragedy  for  ad 
revenue)  in  order  to  turn  an  isolated, 
Montreal-specific  incident  into  a 

//QUOTABLE 


"Show  me  just  what  Muhammad  brought  that  was  new,  and 
there  you  will  find  things  only  evil  and  inhuman,  such  as  his 
command  to  spread  by  the  sword  the  faith  he  preached. " 
-  Manual  Paleologos  11,  a  14th  century  Byzantine  Christian 
emperor,  on  the  nature  of  Islamic  holy  war,  quoted  by  Pope 
Benedict  XVI  during  a  recent  speech  to  academics  in  Germany. 

Just  a  thought.  Your  Holiness,  but  since  you're  the  pope,  people  might 
actually  be  listening  to  those  otherwise  ignored  academic  lectures  given 
by  church  officials.  And  bravo  to  the  radical  Muslims  out  there  for  their 
restrained  reaction — bombing  churches  and  burning  effigies  are  just 
the  thing  to  disprove  such  a  prejudiced  statement  about  Islam  being  a 
violent  religion. 


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lan  chats  with  the  cameras  at  the  Ryerson  Theatre,  Joshua  Jackson  looks  contemplative  at  the  Holt  Renfrew  Party.  Rachel  Weitz  enjoys  the  spotlight  on  the  red  carpet  at  M  Fountain 
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and  Robin  Wright  Penn  get  cozy  at  the  floi/i/premier,  Russell  Crowe  speaks  passionate  at  the  Sutton  Place  Hotel,  Will  Ferrell  messes  with  The       photographer  at  the  Sutton  Place,  Matt  Damon  with  the  African  Children's  Choir  at  the  One  X  One  dinner  at  the 
Carlu.  Sarah  Polley  at  the  National  Film  Board's  picnic,  Christian  Slater  pops  out  to  his  press  conference  at  the  Sutton  Place,  the  "Canada's  Next  Top  Model"  girls  leave  the  Hello  party  at  Hart  House  in  style,  Britney  Snow  visits  the  Holt  Renfrew  party,  Kadisa  Lediga 
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8   MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  18, 2006 


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VARSITY  SCIENCE 


MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  18, 2006  9 


Science  at  the  speed  of 
water 

Researchers  have  revealed  for 
the  first  time  how  fast  water  mol- 
ecules must  interact  with  proteins 
that  make  up  living  organisms  in 
order  to  support  life.  For  decades, 
the  time  scale  on  which  the  wa- 
ter-protein interaction  works 
has  been  debated,  with  guesses 
ranging  from  a  nanosecond  to  a 
picosecond.  Using  ultra-fast  la- 
ser pulses  to  take  snapshots  of 
water  molecules  moving  around 
a  common  bacterial  protein,  re- 
searchers inserted  a  molecule  of 
tryptophan  into  the  protein  as 
an  optical  probe,  and  then  mea- 
sured how  water  moved  around 
it.  The  laser  studies  of  the  protein 
while  it  was  immersed  in  water 
revealed  that  when  far  from  the 
protein,  water  molecules  moved 
around  each  other  at  typically 
fast  speeds,  each  movement  re- 
quiring only  a  single  picosecond. 
Water  near  the  protein,  however, 
formed  several  layers  that  flowed 
at  slower  speeds.  In  the  innermost 
layer,  each  interaction  of  a  water 
molecule  with  the  protein  re- 
quired at  least  100  picoseconds  to 
complete.  Researchers  concluded 
that  water,  when  supporting  life 
on  a  molecular  level,  must  move  a 
hundred  times  slower  than  when 
alone.  They  propose  that  the  nec- 
essary slowing  down  of  water  is 
nature's  way  of  ensuring  every 
water-protein  interaction  is  right. 
If  water  had  to  speed  up  in  order 
to  interact  with  proteins,  a  bottle- 
neck would  appear  in  everyday 
biological  processes  that  organ- 
isms cannot  afford. 
Source:  PNAS 
— ABIGAIL  SLINGER 

Slow  It  down,  baby 

By  measuring  electrical  activity 
in  the  brains  of  pre-surgical  epi- 
lepsy patients,  researchers  have 
found  the  first  evidence  that  slow 
brain  oscillations,  or  theta  waves, 
"tune  in"  to  the  fast  brain  oscilla- 
tions, called  high-gamma  waves. 
Fast  oscillations  signal  the  trans- 
mission of  information  between 
areas  of  the  brain  and  its  pairing 
with  slow  oscillations  allow  wide- 
ly separated  regions  of  the  brain 
to  coordinate  a  single  complex 
activity.  When  doing  simple  tasks, 
like  listening  to  a  list  of  words, 
researchers  found  that  the  slow, 
theta  oscillations  in  the  hearing 
area  of  the  brain  became  coupled 
with  the  fast,  high-gamma  oscil- 
lations in  the  same  area.  During 
complex  actions,  different  brain 
regions  "tune  in"  to  the  high-gam- 
ma oscillations.  They  transfer  in- 
formation between  regions  more 
easily  when  different  areas  oscil- 
late together  at  the  same  theta 
frequency.  Researchers  propose 
that  high-gamma  waves  regulate 
information  input  and  output  from 
a  small  region  of  neurons  while 
theta  waves  coordinate  different 
regions  of  the  brain.  This  could  be 
a  way  for  the  brain  to  connect  low- 
level  actions  to  high-level  goals. 
Source:  UC  Berkeley  news  service 
— A.S. 


An  ATLAS  for  all  matter 


Nira  Datta 


The  marvelous  discoveries  of  the 
quark  and  gluon  may  soon  give  up 
their  spots  as  physics'  most  revolu- 
tionary developments.  An  interna- 
tional collaborative  effort  is  under- 
way to  unravel  the  most  fundamental 
mysteries  of  the  universe. 
U  of  T  physicist  Professor  Robert 
Orr,  is  the  principle  investigator  of 
the  Canadian  arm  of  the  project  AT- 
LAS and  recently  received  the  2006 
ORION  Discovery  Award  for  his 
work  on  what  is  the  world's  largest 
scientific  experiment. 

"Many  of  the  things  we  see  around 
us  have  to  do  with  mass,  but  nobody 
has  any  idea  where  mass  comes 
from,"  Prof  Orr  explained. 

ATLAS  is  a  particle  detector  exper- 
iment located  at  CERN,  the  world's 
largest  particle  physics  laboratory 
in  Geneva,  Switzerland.  The  experi- 
ment is  made  up  of  several  parts, 
including  an  accelerator  that  speeds 
up  particles  and  steers  their  collision 
toward  ATLAS,  the  particle  detector 
that  measures  and  analyzes  what's 
left  behind.  It  may  revolutionize  the 
field  of  particle  physics  by  provid- 
ing answers  to  questions  that  have 
puzzled  physicists  for  centuries. 

"All  of  space. ..is  permeated  by 
what  we  call  a  quantum  field,  the 
Higgs  field.  Now  if  you  put  energy 
into  this  field  you  can  produce  real 
Higgs  particles  out  of  it,"  explained 
Orr. 

These  subatomic  particles  are 
also  known  as  the  Higgs  bosons,  and 
are  predicted  to  be  responsible  for 
giving  mass  to  elementary  particles, 
which  constitute  all  matter.  Without 
it,  the  universe  as  we  know  it  would 
not  exist. 

The  discovery  of  new  particles 
takes  place  underground  in  a  25  km- 


Blowing  a  boson  to  bits:  An  engineer  works  on  connecting  the  Large  Hadron  Collider,  the  underground  particle  accelerator  that 
speeds  particles  toward  collisions  with  one  another  in  the  ATLAS  detector.  Researchers  hope  the  debris  of  these  collisions  will  lead 
to  the  identification  of  the  Higg's  boson. 


long  circular  tunnel,  spanning  the 
border  between  Switzerland  and 
France,  ending  at  the  ATLAS  par- 
ticle detector  that  will  analyze  the 
subatomic  debris  produced  from  the 
collisions  of  high-speed  protons. 

"[ATLAS]  is  anticipated  to  iden- 
tify a  wide  range  of  particles  that 
we  cannot  see  but  can  detect  gravi- 
tationally,"  explained  Orr,  including 
the  undiscovered  Higgs  boson. 

"It's  as  if  the  universe  is  [in]  a  fro- 
zen state.  It  is  ice  and  we  want  to 
study  the  properties  of  water.  So  we 
have  to  melt  a  little  bit  of  the  universe 


back  into  the  primordial  state." 

The  logistics  of  constructing  and 
operating  a  system  as  large  as  AT- 
LAS has  long-lasting  practical  impli- 
cations. For  example,  superconduc- 
tivity, the  near-perfect  transmission 
of  electrical  energy,  has  only  recent- 
ly been  found  to  be  feasible  at  tem- 
peratures above  absolute  zero. 

"In  building  this  big  superconduct- 
ing accelerator,  we  have  to  develop 
technologies  that  don't  exist  at  the 
moment,"  Orr  explained.  "Super- 
conductivity is  a  very  important 
technology,  and  one  can  imagine 


enormous  gains  in  energy  efficiency, 
such  as  power  transmission,  electric 
motors,  and  trains." 

Orr  further  explained  that  the  use 
of  these  technologies  are  difficult 
to  predict,  but  like  most  physics  re- 
search, the  advances  are  revolution- 
ary in  the  long  run, 

"We  can  do  things  now  that  a  thou- 
sand years  ago  people  thought  were 
just  magic,"  he  said. 

In  its  entirety,  ATLAS  involves 
2,000  scientists  and  engineers  at  151 
institutes  in  34  countries,  and  will  be 
fully  constructed  by  2007. 


Lone  planemo  found  to  be  paired 


Mandy  Lo 


Is  it  star?  No.  Is  it  a  planet?  No.  It's  a 
planemo — and  it  comes  with  a  twin! 

Astronomers  have  discovered  a 
pair  of  planemos  (short  for  plan- 
etary mass  objects)  that  circle  not 
around  a  star  but  around  each  other. 
The  existence  of  such  a  twin  system 
is  surprising  the  astronomy  world 
and  challenging  the  current  under- 
standing of  how  stars  and  planets  are 
formed. 

"The  same  kind  of  process  that 
forms  stars  like  the  sun  seems  to  be 
somehow  able  to  form  objects  that 
are  [a]  hundred  times  lower  [in] 
mass,  and  form  them  as  a  binary,"  ex- 
plained professor  Ray  Jayawardhana 
of  the  department  of  astronomy  and 
astrophysics  at  U  of  T,  who  reported 
this  new  discovery  with  Dr.  Valentin 
D.  Ivanov  of  the  European  Southern 
Observatory  (ESO)  in  the  journal  Sci- 
ence. 

Not  quite  a  star  but  not  quite  a 
planet,  planemos  are  strange  mem- 
bers in  the  family  of  celestial  objects, 
sitting  between  low  mass  stars  and 
giant  planets  like  Jupiter.  Planemos 
are  big  in  size,  roughly  a  third  the 
radius  of  the  sun  when  planemos  are 
young,  although  they  have  very  low 
masses — only  one  per  cent  the  mass 
of  the  sun.  Like  the  sun,  however, 
planemos  do  shine. 


The  planemo  pair,  an  anomaly  in  classifications  of  celestial  bodies. 


"[Planemos]  are  very  faint,  but 
when  they  are  young  they  are  still 
hot,  because  they  are  still  contract- 
ing. They  shine  because  they  convert 
gravitational  energy  into  heat,"  ex- 
plained Jayawardhana. 

Half  of  all  stars  come  in  pairs, 
dubbed  a  binary  star,  and  one  sixth 
of  brown  dwarfs — "failed  stars" 
whose  mass  is  too  low  to  sustain  hy- 
drogen fusion  found  in  stars  but  can 
still  fuse  deuterium,  a  heavier  form  of 
hydrogen — also  come  in  pairs. 

Where  do  planemos  fit  in?  A  few 


dozen  single  planemos,  which  are  too 
low  in  mass  to  fuse  deuterium,  have 
been  discovered  by  scientists  since 
2000.  Ophl622  is  the  first  planemo 
found  to  have  a  companion. 

What  is  fascinating  about  the  dis- 
covery of  this  pair  is  that  they  were 
found  with  no  stars  nearby,  very 
much  unlike  traditional  planets  which 
orbit  around  a  star.  Furthermore, 
they  are  found  in  binary  form — much 
like  many  stars. 

Stars  form  from  clouds  of  gas  and 
dust  that  collapse  as  gravity  pulls 


them  together.  Over  millions  of  years, 
this  spinning  cloud  reaches  a  high 
enough  density  and  temperature  in 
the  core  to  initiate  hydrogen  fusion, 
or  nuclear  fusion,  which  makes  a 
star  shine.  The  gas  and  dust  that  is 
left  in  a  disc  around  newborn  stars 
may  collide  and  accumulate  to  form 
large  chunks  and  eventually  give  rise 
to  planets,  or  other  smaller  objects 
such  as  asteroids  and  comets. 

Jayawardhana  speculates  the  new- 
ly discovered  planemo  twin  may  have 
originated  much  like  stars,  forming 
"out  of  a  contracting  gas  cloud  that 
fragmented,  like  a  miniature  stellar 
binary." 

Jayawardhana  and  Ivanov  esti- 
mated the  planemo  companion  to  be 
about  seven  times  the  mass  of  Jupiter 
whereas  Ophl622  is  about  14  times 
the  mass  of  Jupiter.  Separated  by  35 
billion  kilometers,  or  approximately 
six  times  the  distance  between  Pluto 
and  the  Sun,  the  binary  pair  is  located 
in  the  Ophiuchus  star-forming  region 
about  400  light  years  away. 

The  scientists  were  able  to  deter- 
mine the  pair  is  still  young — barely  a 
million  years  old,  and  too  cold  to  be 
stars. 

"Recent  discoveries  have  revealed 
an  amazing  diversity  of  worlds  out 
there,"  said  Jayawardhana.  "Still,  the 
Ophl622  pair  stands  out  as  one  of  the 
most  intriguing,  if  not  peculiar." 


MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  18, 2006 


science@thevarsity.ca 


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sports@thevarsity.ca 


MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  18, 2006  1 1 


Crack,  slash  and  lacrosse 


Post-season  rematch 

In  their  next  game  at  Guelph  on  Septem- 
ber 30,  Copeland  believes  the  team  will 
build  off  of  last  year's  5-4  campaign,  the 
best  in  the  team's  history,  where  they 
lost  in  the  playoffs  to  Bishops  Univer- 
sity, 16-4. 

Sunday,  the  Blues  hosted  the  Gaiter 
team  that  ended  their  first  foray  into  the 
post-season.  While  U  of  T  mustered  a 
better  effort,  the  losing  result  remained 
the  same.  After  trailing  3-2  at  the  end 
of  the  first  half,  thanks  to  goalie  Bryan 
Wyshnicki's  phenomenal  net  play  and 
Robertson's  two  goals,  the  Blues  suf- 
fered two  quick  goals  before  Wyshnicki 
fell  to  an  injury.  Roaming  over  his  net  in 
the  third  quarter,  the  keeper  was  taken 
out  by  two  Bishop  attackers  and  fell 
hard,  not  returning  to  the  game. 

Bairos  came  into  steady  the  Blues. 
The  rookie  played  well,  but  the  injuries 
to  the  Blues,  who  were  already  playing 
without  all-star  attacker  Daniel  Fleming, 
were  too  much  for  U  of  T  to  overcome, 
as  they  were  pinned  for  the  7-2  loss. 

"We  could  have  won  the  game.  We 
should  have  been  up  four  goals  if  we 
had  just  finished  better,"  Copeland  said. 
"I  can  emphasize  how  much  better  we 
played  them  than  last  time.  In  the  end 
we  just  ran  out  of  gas." 


Mid-fielder  Peter  Debrone  watcfies  his  shot  during  the  second  half  of  the  Blues  season 
opener  Saturday.  U  of  T  defeated  Laurier  6-3  at  back  campus. 


Christophe  Poirier 

SPORTS  EDITOR 


With  the  crack  of  a  stick  slash  and  the 
head  rush  of  a  back  check,  Men's  La- 
crosse got  underway  this  weekend. 
The  Blues  (1-1)  plan  on  getting  back  to 
where  they  left  the  field  last  year:  in  the 
post-season. 

As  Head  Coach  Wayne  Copeland 
began  his  second  season  helming  the 
squad,  he  spoke  of  the  enthusiasm  that 
surrounds  the  team. 

"There's  more  of  an  intensity  pres- 
ent," Copeland  said.  "We  have  more 
players  than  ever  before,  and  with 
that  we  will  have  a  more  balanced  at- 
tack. The  team  also  has  broadened  the 
coaching  staff,  both  of  whom  will  help 
us  achieve  a  better  overall  strategy  for 
each  game." 

New  Staff  and  players 

Joining  Copeland  on  the  sidelines  are 
defensive  coach  Jordan  Wilkinson  and 
bench  coach  Todd  Wilffrey.  The  staff 
rounds  out  with  Derek  Collins  and  Scott 
Reid,  who  return  to  instruct  the  goalies 
and  offence. 

The  Blues  welcomed  25  players  to 
the  off-season  tryouts,  with  the  crop 
yielding  eight  rookies.  Most  notable 
of  the  new  faces  was  JonCarlo  Bairos. 
A  goaltender  who  played  at  St.  Mike's 
high  school  last  year,  Bairos  was  the 
MVP  of  the  Greater  Toronto  HS  La- 
crosse league. 

"He's  tremendous  in  net,  and  we  thor- 
oughly enjoy  his  presence  on  the  team," 
Copeland  said. 

Other  rookies  playing  in  front  of  Bai- 
ros include  defenders  Andre  Bruno  and 
Jonathan  Moore. 

Returning  stalwarts  include  brothers 
Jon  and  Nick  Reed,  with  Jon  captaining 
the  defence  and  Nick  pacing  the  attack. 
Other  veterans  include  Dan  Flemming, 
Ian  Parrag,  and  Adam  Robertson,  three 


players  from  whom  Copeland  expects 
big  things. 

While  a  strong  and  youthful  core 
is  a  positive  for  the  Blues,  the  team's 
weakness  will  be  the  lack  of  size  in  its 
defence.  U  of  T  lost  Steve  Hoar  to  gradu- 
ation, a  massive  mid-fielder  who  took 


the  majority  of  the  face-offs  last  year. 
Replacing  a  league  MVP  who  the  team 
revolved  around  will  be  a  process. 

"We're  a  little  small  strategically,"  Co- 
peland said.  "We're  not  going  to  over- 
whelm anyone.  As  a  result,  we  will  need 
to  work  a  lot  harder  on  offence.  We 


have  a  new  face-off  guy  in  Beau  Bassett, 
who's  winning  more  than  50  per  cent  of 
the  draws,  and  in  a  field  game,  winning 
face-offs  is  a  big  deal." 


Bruising  battle 

The  lack  of  conditioning  could  have 
been  a  result  of  playing  Wilfrid  Laurier 
the  day  before.  From  the  opening  face- 
off  skirmish  to  the  pile  of  checked  bod- 
ies that  cleared  with  the  closing  whistle, 
U  of  T  defeated  the  Golden  Hawks  6-3  in 
a  bruising  battle  at  back  campus. 

Laurier  was  supported  by  its  physi- 
cally big  defence,  which  did  not  so 


much  swarm  the  Blues  attackers  as  en- 
gage them  in  combat.  U  of  T  came  out 
gunning,  peppering  three  quick  shots 
at  the  Golden  Hawk  net,  but  with  no 
tally  to  show  on  the  board. 

It  was  Laurier  that  struck  first,  as 
Chadd  Murphy  blew  by  Jon  Reed  and 
marked  the  first  goal  of  the  match.  The 
Blues  would  later  tie  it,  taking  advan- 
tage of  a  Golden  Hawk  penalty.  After 
having  the  power  play  attack  snuffed 
out  with  a  stick  save,  the  Laurier  goal- 
tender  Tyler  Handley  gave  the  ball  right 
back  and  Nick  Reed  capitalized  on  the 
mistake,  scoring  to  keep  the  teams 
neck-and-neck  at  the  half. 

The  off-season  rust  was  noticeable 
on  the  Blues.  When  crisp  passes  to 
open  men  were  needed,  they  went  over 
the  outstretched  sticks  of  the  would-be 
scorers  instead. 

First-game  kinks  were  shed  as  Rob- 
ertson put  an  end  to  the  tie,  sneaking 
a  low  shot  past  a  screened  Handley  to 
put  the  Blues  up  2-1.  Soon  after,  a  nifty 
pass  from  mid-fielder  Mike  Harding  set 
up  a  beautiful  goal  by  Peter  Debrone  as 
the  Blues  went  up  3-1. 

It  was  all  Robertson  after  that.  The 
Blues'  mid-fielder  scored  four  gocils, 
including  the  next  three,  his  second 
being  especially  nice.  Slashing  through 
the  teeth  of  the  Laurier  defense,  Robert- 
son beat  two  defenders  and  shot  over  a 
third,  his  rifled  ball  tucked  in  to  the  bot- 
tom left  corner  of  the  net. 

The  game  was  essentially  over  at  that 
point,  with  Robertson's  fourth  and  two 
meemingless  Laurier  gocds  bringing  the 
end  result  to  6-3.  The  Golden  Hawk's 
neediness  for  cohesive  play  turned  vio- 
lent as  their  overall  lack  of  talent  and 
technique  left  them  with  only  brawn  to 
turn  to.  Openly  hitting  the  U  of  T  play- 
ers when  they  could,  Laurier  left  the 
Blues  with  some  black  and  blues,  but 
that  didn't  stop  them  from  wallowing 
in  defeat. 


STUDY  A  MASTER  OF  TEACHING  IN  AUSTRALIA 


Griffith  University  is  one  of  Australia's  most  progressive,  innovative 
and  dyiidmic  univeraUcb  and  ib  sUdleyicoiiy  locdled  m  AubUdiui. 
fastest  growing  region  -  the  flourishing  Brisbane-Gold  Coast  corridor. 

Associate  Professor  Denis  Jones,  Director,  Master  of  Teaching,  will 
be  hosting  information  sessions  A  limitpd  number  of  places  in  this 
prc-gram  are  avaiiabie  tor  commencement  in  2007,  but  filling  quickly 
so  don't  miss  out!  Information  session  times  arp; 


Friday  22  September  2006 
6.30pm  to  0.30pm 
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242  Pali  Mail  Street,  London 

Saturday  23  September  2005 
2.00pm  to  4,00p.m 
Holiday  inn  Select  OakMlle  @  Bronte 
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Sunday  'JA  Septc?rnbf?r  2006 
4. 00pm  to  G.OOpm 
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Monday  25  September  2006 
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Please  contact  i<OM  Consultants  for  further  information: 

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Phone;     905  318  8200 

Email:  info@komconsultants.com 


www.9riff1th.edu.au/intemational 


Griffith 

UNIVERSITY 


CRIC0SProv:<!«.  Nuito  00233E 


Queensland.  Australia 


THIS  WEEK'S  GAMES 

RUGBY  -  Back  Campus 

Men  vs.  Brock  3  p.m. 

Wed.  Sept.  20 

Men  vs.  Guelph  3  p.m. 

Sun.  Sept  24 

Women  vs. Trent  I  p.m. 

Sun. SepL  24 

SOCCER  -  Birchmount  Stadium 

Men  vs.  Carleton  i  p.m. 

SatSept  23 

Women  vs.  Carleton  3  p.m. 

Sat.  Sept.  23 

Women  vs.  Ottawa  2  p.m. 

Sun.  Sept.  24 


12  MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  18,2006 


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Come  play  for  our  team 
write  for  sports 
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theVARSlTY 


THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  21, 2006 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  TORONTO'S  STUDENT  NEWSPAPER  SINCE  1880 


Students  at  the  at  the  University  of  Northern  British  Columbia  are  lectured  via  videoconference.  Starting  next  fall,  U  of  T  medical  students  will  be  taught  in  a  similar  way 


When  a  student  raises  their  hand  during  a 
lecture,  the  professor  who  answers  the 
question  is  usually  not  30  kilometres 

away. 

Yet  this  type  of  long-distance  interaction  will  be 
played  out  daily  at  U  of  T  come  next  fall — and  it 
will  not  be  the  only  technology-inspired  changes 
that  students  will  soon  find  themselves  adjusting 
to  either. 

"The  fact  that  it's  a  thousand  kilometres  away  ac- 
tually doesn't  seem  to  make  that  much  of  a  differ- 
ence," said  Dr.  David  Snadden,  the  associate  dean 
of  the  Northern  Medical  Program. 

It  has  been  three  years  since  students  first  start- 
ed videoconference  lectures  at  the  University  of 
Northern  British  Columbia's  new  Northern  Medi- 
cal Program — a  joint  program  with  the  University 
of  British  Columbia  and  the  University  of  Victoria's 
Island  Medical  Program. 

Through  a  setup  involving  video  screens  at  ei- 
ther end  of  the  classroom — so  that  both  students 
and  professors  see  the  same  content  without  hav- 
ing to  crane  their  necks — professors  deliver  their 
lectures  to  one  room  with  actual  students,  and. 


over  an  audio  and  video  link,  to  the  remaining  two 
distanced  classrooms. 

Students  with  burning  questions  are  able  to 
interrupt  a  professor  1,000  kilometres  away  by 
activating  their  microphone  and  having  a  camera 
automatically  zoom  in  on  them. 

A  similar  setup  will  go  online  next  fall  at  UTM, 
when  U  of  T's  fourth  medical  academy  opens  its 
doors  there.  With  the  yearly  intake  of  undergradu- 
ate medical  students  set  to  grow  to  224  from  198 
next  year,  the  medical  faculty's  current  location 
in  the  Medical  Sciences  Building  is  already  too 
cramped. 

Enter  videoconferencing,  which  is  expected  to 
take  on  a  role  in  educating  the  students  in  the  Un- 
dergraduate Medical  Education  (UME)  program  at 
the  St.  George  campus,  as  well  as  at  UTM,  where 
additional  faculty  will  be  hired  to  broadcast  lec- 
tures of  their  own  to  students  at  the  downtown 
campus.  It  will  cost  $3.7  million  to  rig  up  class- 
rooms at  St.  George  and  UTM  for  this  purpose. 

The  co-chair  of  the  planning  committee  for  the 
expansion  of  the  UME  program  to  Mississauga, 
Dr.  Jay  Rosenfield,  claimed  that  the  experience 


will  be  more  interactive  than  large  lecture  halls 
"where  you  can't  hear  people  in  the  back  and  the 
lighting's  not  good." 

Justin  Chan,  the  president  of  the  medical  society 
at  U  of  T  medical  school  saw  some  other  benefits. 

"As  medical  students,  we  have  a  vast  amount  of 
information  to  absorb  in  four  short  years.  Incor- 
poration of  new  technologies  that  facilitate  learn- 
ing makes  this  challenge  a  little  less  daunting." 

"Your  gut  reaction  is  this  will  never  be  as  good 
as  the  real  thing,  but  in  fact  it's  turned  out  to  be 
at  least  as  good  as  the  real  thing,"  said  Snadden, 
who  also  said  that  students  seem  to  prefer  the  vid- 
eoconference lectures  due  to  the  high  sound  and 
image  quality. 

Though  some  students  may  have  an  optimistic 
view  on  the  way  technology  is  being  implemented 
in  their  classrooms,  their  opinion  is  not  shared  by 
all  the  actors  at  the  university.  Kenneth  Bartlett, 
director  of  the  office  of  teaching  advancement, 
has  a  different — and,  he  stresses,  personal — view 
on  technology's  role  in  the  classroom. 

SEE  TEACHING' -PG  3 


www.thevarsity.ca  i| 

VOL.  CXXVII,N0.8 


David  Nayior,  look  out 

University  presidents  may  now 
be  fair  game  for  lawsuits  after  a 
ruling  last  week  by  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Canada. 

Daniel  Freeman-Maloy  is  seek- 
ing damages,  reports  the  National 
Post,  after  the  president  of  York 
suspended  him  for  three  years 
and  did  not  provide  him  with  a 
venue  to  appeal  the  decision  after 
the  former  took  part  in  a  couple 
of  protests. 

Freeman-Maloy  alleges  that 
Yorkpresident  Lorna  Marsden 
committed  a  breach  of  duty  as  an 
official  in  a  public  office,  libel,  and 
a  breach  of  academic  freedom. 

York  lawyers  had  argued  that 
university  presidents  are  inde- 
pendent and  cannot  be  sued  as 
public  officials.  Though,  now  that 
the  sec  has  denied  this  appeal, 
the  lawyers  plan  to  continue 
this  line  of  argument,  as  well  as 
arguing  that  Marsden  did  nothing 
wrong  in  the  first  place. 
-KEVIN  WONG 

Taskforce  on 
Islamophophia  kicks  off 

The  Canadian  Federation  of 
Students'  (CFS)  task  force  on 
Islamophobia  kicked  off  at  U 
of  T  on  Wednesday,  with  a  Hart 
House  hearing  September  aimed 
at  garnering  the  needs  of  U  of  T's 
Muslim  population. 

The  members  of  the  taskforce 
are  encouraging  students  to  step 
forward  and  make  public  state- 
ments on  the  matter  in  a  series 
of  events  at  Ontario  university 
campuses. 

"When  Muslim  students  at 
Ryerson  were  targeted,  students 
across  the  province  realised 
that  we  needed  to  come  together 
to  promote  inclusive  campus 
communities,  so  we  launched  a 
campaign  against  Islamophobia, 
Anti-Semitism  and  racism,"  said 
Jesse  Greener,  CFS  Ontario  chair- 
person. 

The  CFS  will  compile  its  find- 
ings into  a  report  that  it  plans  to 
release  on  the  international  Day 
to  End  Racism,  in  March  2007. 
-SANA  AHMED 


Mayoral  race  strikes  sparks  at  Innis 


Adnan  Khan  &  Josef  Szende 

VARSITY  STAFF  

The  first  mayoral  debate  between 
Mayor  David  Miller  and  councillor 
Jane  Pitfield  presented  contrasting 
visions  on  improving  public  transit 
and  tackling  the  city's  garbage  prob- 
lem. 

The  two  candidates  spoke  at  Innis 
College  Town  Hall  on  Monday,  kick- 
ing off  a  series  of  public  discussions 
about  Toronto's  future  that  the  col- 
lege is  hosting  in  the  run-up  to  mu- 
nicipal elections  on  Nov.  13. 

Pitfield  promised  a  city-wide  refer- 
endum on  the  Gardiner  expressway. 
On  transit,  she  said  "the  TTC  needs 
a  complete  overhaul." 

On  transit  issues.  Miller  high- 


lighted the  success  of  the  recent 
changes  to  the  TTC's  daily,  weekly 
and  monthly  passes.  "When  people 
have  a  pass  they  commit  to  public 
transit.  We  know  people  will  be  wait- 
ing for  the  bus." 

He  defended  his  decision  to  grant 
a  Thunder  Bay  company  the  contract 
to  build  subway  cars,  while  Pitfield 
criticized  the  lack  of  research  done 
into  the  arrangement.  Pitfield  asked 
why  Torontonians  should  care  about 
helping  Northern  Ontario  with  jobs, 
when  $100  million  might  have  been 
saved  by  outsourcing  to  China.  Mill- 
er retorted  that  giving  jobs  to  Cana- 
dians was  a  priority,  as  was  building 
stable  relations  with  the  provincial 
government. 

Miller  also  preferred  dedicated 


lane  buses,  such  as  in  Ottawa,  and 
streetcars  like  the  current  Spadina 
and  the  future  right-of-way  streetcar 
lanes  on  St.  Clair  Street.  This  will 
cost  $65  million,  compared  to  $2.1 
billion  for  the  proposed  York  sub- 
way extension. 

Pitfield  was  vague  on  what  exact- 
ly she  would  do  on  transit.  She  did 
state  that  "although  subways  are  ex- 
pensive they  are  the  best  way." 

On  a  few  occasions  the  candidates 
parted  from  their  municipal  policy 
script  to  make  personal  swipes  at 
each  other.  At  one  point,  Pitfield 
accused  Miller  of  causing  the  TTC 
wildcat  strike  in  May. 

As  Miller  began  to  respond.  Pit- 
field  interjected,  with  her  support- 
ers backing  her  up  with  applause. 


Miller  simply  replied,  "Is  it  my  turn 
to  speak  now?" 

On  the  issue  of  garbage,  Pitfield 
supported  incineration  such  as  Hal- 
ton's  "waste-to-energy"  facility.  She 
is  also  keen  on  introducing  garbage 
bag  tags  to  limit  household  waste. 
Miller,  meanwhile,  touted  waste  re- 
duction through  composting  and  re- 
cycling programs,  as  well  as  minor 
landfilling.  (He  announced  plans  to 
build  a  new  landfill  in  Ontario  near 
London  on  Wednesday.) 

Afterward,  the  candidates  an- 
swered audience  questions.  Asked 
about  the  older  age  of  the  crowd, 
Miller  said  he  wished  there  had 
been  more  students. 
"I'd  like  to  see  them  here.  They're 
smarter  than  us,"  he  said. 


//COUNTDOWN  TO  NOV.  13 


Nearly  every  week  until  the 
municipal  elections,  public 
meetings  and  debates  at  Innis 
College  Town  Hall  and  Hart  House 
will  examine  some  of  Toronto's 
most  pressing  concerns: 

EDUCATION:  Issues  facing  Toronto 
schools  are  the  order  of  the  next 
Tuesday,  Sept.  26,  at  Innis,  at  6:30 
p.m. 

CITY  PLANNING:  Former  city  planner 
Paul  Bedford  speaks  on  Tuesday, 
Oct.  3,  at  Innis,  at  6:30  p.m. 

MAYORAL  DEBATE:  Hart  House  Great 
Hall,  on  Monday,  Oct.  23, 6:30  p.m. 

GARBAGE:  To  burn  or  not  to?  Lars 
Henriksson,  from  the  Swedish 
consulate,  discusses  the  arguments 
Tuesday,  Oct.  31,  at  Innis,  6:30  p.m. 


THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  21, 2006 


VARSITY  NEWS 


news@thevarsity.ca 


//INTERNATIONAL  new: 


Edginess  in  Thailand 
after  a  bloodless  coup 

BANGKOK  —  Martial  law  is  in  effect  through- 
out Thailand  after  a  cadre  of  senior  officers, 
led  by  Army  Commander  Sonthi  Boonyaratglin, 
sent  columns  of  tanks  rumbling  into  Bangkok  on 
Tuesday. 

But  though  ousted  prime  minister  Thaksin 
Shinawatra  was  massively  unpopular  in  Bang- 


kok, the  mood  on  the  streets  is  one  of  apprehen- 
sion. (Thailand  has  seen  17  coups  in  the  past 
century,  most  of  which  resulted  in  a  period  of 
oppressive  military  rule.) 

Much  of  it  stems  from  the  fact  that  Thailand's 
revered  King  Bhumibol  has  yet  to  comment  on 
the  coup.  Though  his  role  is  largely  symbolic,  the 
King  holds  enormous  sway  among  his  people. 

His  personal  intervention  brought  an  end  to 
military  rule  after  the  last  coup  in  1991.  He  also 
settled  an  impasse  over  the  election  results  ear- 
lier this  year. 

The  importance  of  royal  support  was  not 
lost  on  the  revolutionaries.  Soldiers  tied  yellow 


bands  to  their  rifles  and  tank  barrels,  signifying 
loyalty  to  the  King.  They  have  since  declared  that 
they  have  the  King's  support  for  their  actions. 
But  although  they  were  granted  a  royal  audience 
on  the  same  night  that  they  took  power,  the  King 
himself  has  yet  to  comment  on  the  unfolding 
turmoil. 

Thaksin  retains  significant  support  in  Thai- 
land, among  the  rural  workers  as  well  as  among 
many  segments  of  the  military.  For  decades  the 
King  has  been  a  stabilizing  force  in  Thai  politics. 
It  now  remains  to  be  seen  how  his  considerable 
influence  will  play  out  in  the  current  crisis. 
-MIKE  KARANICOLAS 


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NEWS 


THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  21,  2006 


TEACHING'  -  CONTINUED  FROM  PG  1 

"The  technology  that  1  prefer  most 
is  the  technology  of  the  human 
brain,"  said  Bartlett.  "When  asked  if 
I  need  A/V  equipment,  I  say,  can  they 
hear  me,  can  they  see  me?  Well  then, 
there's  A/V  equipment  right  there." 

There  is  a  human  element  that  is 
lost,  said  Bartlett,  through  allowing 
technology  to  "become  a  crutch  that 
compensates  for  dynamic  classroom 
involvement."  The  human  element  is 
something  that  universities  tradition- 
ally produce  by  engaging  students  in 
discussion  and  creating  a  sense  of 
collegiality,  which  Bartlett  said  has 
contributed  to  the  survivability  of 
the  university  institution  over  the 
ages. 

"The  University  of  Toronto  does  not 
do  distance  education,  and  I  don't 
think  it  ever  should  because  it's  not 
our  strength,"  Bartlett  said.  "The 
most  effective  way  of  teaching  is  to 
be  in  a  room  with  live  people  engaged 
in  discussion  about  ideas  and  words 
that  aren't  mediated  by  technology," 
For  Sylvia  Young,  a  third-year  UTSC 
health  studies  major,  the  human  ele- 
ment is  a  tangible  feeling  of  encour- 
agement that  occurs  when  being 
surrounded  by  students  in  a  lecture 
hall  as  opposed  to  watching  recorded 
lectures  provided  by  the  same  pro- 
fessor. 

"I  actually  paid  more  attention  going 
into  a  class  instead  of  watching  it  on- 
line, because  everyone's  around,  the 
professor's  right  there... motivating 
me  to  learn,"  she  said. 

Despite  a  student's  best  efforts  to 
resist  technology's  influence  and  dis- 
tractions within  a  classroom,  it  may 


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be  a  futile  effort — at  least  for  students 
with  wandering  eyes  in  lecture  halls 
that  are  lit  by  lights  from  the  ceiling 
and  the  dim  glow  of  a  growing  num- 
ber of  student-owned  laptops. 

"1  see  people  playing  games  in  class 
and  it's  kind  of  distracting  for  me,  like 
when  they  sit  right  in  front  of  me," 
said  Young. 

"I  just  think  having  a  laptop  makes 
you  less  focused  and  less  likely  to 
pay  attention  in  class  and  that  you're 
missing  out  on  a  lot  of  things." 

And  laptop  use  at  UTSC  is  grow- 
ing, according  to  Zoran  Piljevic,  the 
assistant  manager  of  informational 
and  instructional  technology  servic- 
es at  UTSC.  The  number  of  wireless 
connections  on  UTSC's  network  has 
grown  substantially  with  170  users 
last  spring,  and  with  140  just  in  the 
first  week  of  this  fall  term.  Piljevic  is 
not  surprised,  since  the  price  of  a  lap- 
top has  fallen. 

For  Kenneth  Bartlett,  however,  the 
key  is  to  treat  technology  as  what  it 
is,  a  tool. 

"It  should  be  seen  as  something  that 
is  ancillary  to  the  basic  function  of  a 
lecture  or  seminar,"  he  says,  adding 
that  the  best  classes  have  students 
passing  ideas  around,  rather  than 
just  a  back-and-forth  motion  between 
TA  and  student. 

"That's  what  we  should  be  aiming 
for — a  dynamic  environment  of  mu- 
tual learning  and  intellectual  growth." 


//SIMCOEHALL 


A  look  at  some  of  the  initiatives  making  their 
way  through  the  U  of  T  Governing  GouncH's 
boards  and  committees  this  fall: 

St.  George  campus  centre 

Next  week,  the  University  Affairs  board  is 
due  to  review  a  report  that  will  recommend 
the  addition  of  another  "major  node"  of 
student  life  on  the  St.  George  campus.  The 
report  has  been  in  the  works  since  spring 
2005,  after  a  non-binding  student  refer- 


endum yielded  57  per  cent  support  for  the 
idea. 

Paying  for  it  will  require  a  student  levy 
through  a  SAC  referendum.  The  report  rec- 
ommends that  the  university  pitch  in  50 
cents  for  every  student  levy  dollar  raised. 

Policy  wonk  paradise? 

The  groundwork  is  also  being  laid  for  the 
founding  of  a  school  for  public  policy  and 
government,  which  will  offer  a  new  degree, 


a  Master's  of  Public  Policy,  starting  next  fall. 
At  Monday's  planning  and  budget  commit- 
tee meeting,  however,  one  governor  drew 
attention  to  the  school's  preliminary  budget, 
which  would  allocate  $215,000  for  organiz- 
ing conferences  and  symposia  out  of  its 
yearly  $1.7  million  cost  in  its  third  year. 
-MIKE  GHENU  I 

I 

Simcoe  Hall  is  an  occasional  column  that  M 
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4   THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  21, 2006 


The  Varsity 


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opinions@thevarsity.ca 


VARSITY  COMMENT 


Loopy  CUPE 

Union's  divisive  resolution  needlessly  inflames  Mideast  debate 


THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  21, 2006  5 


Alexandra  Molotkow 


Writing  about  anj^Jiing  even  remotely 
related  to  the  Israel/Palestine  conflict 
requires  a  careful  step,  whicfi  makes 
Resolution  50  from  CUPE  Ontario 
(the  provincial  wing  of  the  Canadian 
Union  of  Public  Employees)  all  the 
more  open  to  debate. 

The  resolution — passed  during  a 
recent  convention  in  Ottawa — signals 
CUPE  Ontario's  inclusion  in  a  global 
campaign  for  "boycott,  divestment 
and  sanctions  against  Israel  until 
that  state  recognizes  the  Palestinian 
right  to  self-determination."  While  it 
is  within  CUPE's  constitution  to  make 
such  resolutions  in  solidarity  with  in- 
ternational workers,  this  is  very  much 
a  loaded  issue. 

Though  the  resolution  was  passed 


unanimously  at  the  meeting,  it  does 
not  reflect  a  true  consensus  among 
CUPE  Ontario's  constituents.  While 
many  support  the  decision,  a  num- 
ber staunchly  oppose  it.  Some  mem- 
bers— such  as  Local  265 — have 
renounced  their  union  membership 
altogether  in  the  aftermath. 

While  criticising  Israel's  policies 
is  not  tantamount  to  anti-Semitism, 
it's  a  very  difficult  topic  to  broach 
without  the  critic  being  perceived  as 
such.  In  a  media  release,  Jewish  Voca- 
tional Services  Toronto  said  the  deci- 
sion was  "an  attack  upon  the  Jewish 
people  and  as  such  fans  the  flames 
of  anti-Semitism,"  and  they  aren't  the 
only  ones  who  feel  that  way. 

The  resolution  was  made  with 
particular  concern  for  Israel's  con- 
struction of  a  security  barrier  in 


Gaza,  referred  to  by  opponents  as  an 
"Apartheid  Wall."  The  wall,  which  is 
supposed  to  prevent  terrorists  from 
entering  Israel,  violates  international 
law,  restricts  the  mobility  of  the  Pal- 
estinian people,  and  claims  more 
land  for  Israel  than  is  rightfully  within 
its  control. 

The  alleged  parallels  between 
apartheid-era  South  Africa  and  mod- 
ern Israel  may  have  been  part  of  what 
compelled  CUPE  to  act  decisively  on 
this  issue.  However,  many  feel  that 
the  comparison  is  primarily  a  rhe- 
torical one.  While  there  are  similari- 
ties between  the  living  conditions  of 
Palestinians  and  those  of  black  South 
Africans  under  apartheid,  they  arose 
out  of  vastly  different  circumstances. 
To  ignore  this  reality  is  disingenuous. 

CUPE  has  a  right  to  take  a  stand  on 


international  issues,  if  they  relate  to 
its  mandate  of  safeguarding  workers' 
rights.  But  why  take  a  firm  position 
on  such  precarious  ground?  The  Is- 
rael-Palestine conflict  is  an  incredibly 
complex  one  amongst  human  rights 
issues,  and  it  affects  many  of  CUPE 
Ontario's  members  intimately.  The 
conflict  is  an  intellectual  matryoshka 
doll — for  every  answer  there  are 
infinitely  more  questions.  It  has  the 
power  to  radically  divide  otherwise 
rational  North- Americans. 

Some  argue  that  a  Western  bias  in 
favour  of  Israel  makes  it  an  obligation 
for  groups  that  see  the  situation  dif- 
ferently to  act  on  behalf  of  Palestine. 
But  if  this  is  fundamentally  an  issue 
of  human  rights,  there's  no  reason  to 
identify  a  "good  guy"  and  a  "bad  guy." 
The  use  of  the  term  "apartheid"  iden- 


tifies Israel  as  the  "bad  guy";  it  is  an 
oversimplification  that  could  be  said 
to  pander  to  irrationality. 

Claims  that  Resolution  50  is  funda- 
mentally anti-Semitic,  however,  are 
rather  narrow-minded.  CUPE  Ontar- 
io's intention — exposing  the  hard- 
ships of  the  Palestinian  people — is 
a  noble  one  at  heart,  though  the  po- 
litical left's  preoccupation  with  the 
matter  tends  to  raise  eyebrows  here 
at  home. 

In  Canada,  we  have  the  luxury  of  po- 
litical safety  and  freedom  of  expres- 
sion— we  can  choose  to  participate  in 
critical  discourse  rather  than  point- 
ing fingers.  But  taking  firm  action  on 
an  issue  this  volatile  and  politically 
divisive  alienates  people  who  might 
otherwise  be  interested  in  hearing 
CUPE's  position. 


Haute  couture  loosens  its  belt 


Hayley  Morrison 


Finally,  the  fashion  industry  has  wo- 
ken up  and  recognized  the  critical 
importance  of  projecting  an  image 
of  health  and  full-figured  beauty, 
rather  than  the  ultra-thin,  under- 
sized image  popularized  by  stars 
like  Nicole  Ritchie. 

The  "extra-bony  trend"  came  un- 
done this  week  when  organizers  at 
the  Pasarela  Cibeles  fashion  show 
in  Madrid  banned  five  models  with 
a  body  mass  index  or  height-to- 
weight  ratio  below  18.  According  to 
Spanish  organizers,  many  of  their  5 
foot  7  models  maintain  a  body  mass 
index  of  18,  which  barely  amounts 
to  115  pounds.  A  normal  BMI  should 
fall  between  18.5  and  24.9,  and  any- 
thing less  than  18.5  is  considered 
underweight. 

Although  the  fashion  world  was 
caught  off  guard,  the  show's  orga- 
nizers remained  confident  that  the 
decision  to  reject  these  skeletal 
centerpieces  would  not  "interfere 
in  the  aesthetic  of  any  designers' 
show."  Organizers  openly  admit- 
ted that  they  don't  want  "walking 
skeletons"  projecting  "a  gaunt,  ema- 
ciated look"  at  Spain's  top  annual 
fashion  show. 

Ultimately,  Spain's  rejection  of 
this  long-popular  body  type  illus- 
trates the  fashion  world's  increas- 
ing awareness  of  the  mounting  pres- 
sure on  young  girls  to  be  wafer-thin, 
like  Kate  Moss.  The  show's  decision 
demonstrates  to  women  of  all  ages 


Spain's  rejection  of  the  "cocaine  chic" 
look  exemplified  above  could  spark  a 
wider  return  to  a  more  curvaceous  ideal. 

that  starving  themselves  to  be  stick 
thin  doesn't  make  them  beautiful. 

In  reaction  to  this  decision,  the 
British  Fashion  Council  has  also 
considered     banning  super-thin 


models  at  their  London  Fashion 
this  week,  with  Tessa  Jowell,  Brit- 
ain's culture  secretary,  advising  the 
London  Fashion  week  organizers  to 
follow  in  Madrid's  footsteps. 

The  majority  of  today's  models, 
who  live  under  intense  pressure 
from  constantly  being  in  the  spot- 
light, can  barely  keep  their  expen- 
sive Valentino  and  Versace  outfits 
from  falling  off  their  lean  bodies. 
The  fact  that  we  still  gawk  at  such 
fragile  figures  demonstrates  that 
our  culture  has  allowed  us  to  be- 
come thin-obsessed  and  accept  an- 
orexia as  the  norm. 

Even  in  the  latest  chick  flick  The 
Devil  Wears  Prada,  Anne  Hatha- 
way's  character  was  constantly 
being  berated  by  her  boss  and  co- 
workers for  being  overweight.  She 
was  insulted  for  eating  calorie-load- 
ed corn  chowder  but  commended 
for  slimming  down  and  slipping 
into  something  two  or  three  sizes 
smaller.  Sadly,  although  the  actress 
is  already  approximately  125  lbs, 
audiences  seemed  to  support  rath- 
er than  condemn  the  way  she  was 
treated. 

At  a  time  when  "dying  to  be  thin" 
seems  to  be  the  in-thing  and  every- 
body is  watching  their  carb  intake, 
the  recent  announcement  in  Spain 
demonstrates  to  the  fashion  world 
and  society  at  large  that  having  a 
little  meat  on  your  bones  could  be 
more  attractive  than  looking  like 
the  scarecrow  in  a  corn  patch. 


LETTERS 


Webmail  woes 

How  do  1  loathe  the  new  U  of  T  Web- 
mail? Oh,  let  me  count  the  ways... 

While  we  U  of  T  Webmail  users 
have  recently  been  treated  to  a  bland 
yet  much-welcomed  facelift  to  our 
webmail  accounts,  we've  also  been 
subjected  to  an  obtrusive,  craptacu- 
lar  new  interface  and  a  system  that  is 
even  slower  than  the  paleolithic-era 
detritus  that  it  replaces. 

Worse  yet,  it  won't  let  me  log  in 
to  my  webmail  90  per  cent  of  the 
time.  Login  failed?  I've  been  using 
the  same  login  and  password  for  five 
years  now!  Login  failed,  yeah  right! 

//QUOTABLE 


Then,  after  suffering  the  indignity 
of  being  told  that  I'm  an  impostor,  it 
locks  me  out! 

I'm  not  ready  to  call  for  a  Luddite 
uprising  yet — there  may  yet  be  value 
to  this  new  webmail  interface.  1  do 
like  the  fact  that  it  tells  you  how 
much  space  you've  used  in  your  ac- 
count, and  I  like  the  less  static,  more 
'interactive'  feel  of  it.  The  problems 
1  mentioned  may  just  be  kinks  in 
the  new  system  that  will  be  worked 
out  in  due  course.  But  please,  IT,  do 
something  soon  to  get  it  working 
properly! 

Ari  David  Kopolovic 


In  a  bizarre  twist  inside  Canada's  always-interesting 
public  broadcaster,  CBC  chairperson  Guy  Fournier 
voluntarily  resigned  last  week  after  "he  claimed 
that  Lebanon  allowed  men  to  have  sexual  relations 
with  female  animals,  but  reserved  the  death  penalty  for 
those  who  did  so  with  male  animals."  In  an  extreme  case  of 
'too  much  information,'  Fournier  also  "talked  at  length  about  the 
joys  of  bowel  movements"  on  a  replayed  CBC  weekend  interview. 
(Reuters)  Fournier's  baffling  comments  served  to  bolster  the 
argument  of  those  who  claim  that  our  venerable  broadcasting 
institution  is  truly  full  of  shit. 


T/ie  (^/5//Kwelcomes  letters  from  our 
readers.  Send  letters  (250  words  max.) 
with  your  full  name  &  phone  number  to: 

opinions@thevarsjty.ca 

Opinions  submissions 
are  also  welcome. 


Comment  section  meeting: 

Thursday,  September  21 
6:10  p.m. 
77/6  Varsityoliice  -  2nd  Floor. 
21  Sussex  Ave 

Current  and  Interested 
writers  are  welcome! 


tl  VARSITY 

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E-mail: 
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Editor-in-Chief 

Sarah  Barmak 

Production  Manager 

Rogelio  Briseiio 

News  Editor 

Mike  Ghenu 

Photo  Editor 

Kara  Dillon 

Science  Editor 

Sandy  Huen 

Arts  &  Entertainment  Editor 

Jordan  Bimm 


Sports  Editor 

Christophe  Poirier 

Comment  Editor 

J.P.  Antonacci 

Satellite  Campus  Bureau  Chief 

Gus  Constantinou 

Associate  A&E  Editors 

Jennifer  Fabro 
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Associate  Sports  Editor 

Perry  King 


Associate  News  Editors 

Malcolm  Johnston 
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Associate  Comment  Editor 

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Associate  Science  Editors 

Mayce  Al-Sukhni 
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Contributors: 

Sana  Ahmeil,  Jennifer  Bates,  Mike  Karanicolas, 
Alexandra  Molotkow,  Hayley  Morrison, 
Josef  Szende,  Karen  Zhou 


VARSITY  PUBLICATIONS: 


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Johanna  Herman 


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6   THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  21, 2006 


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Clarity  of  the  network  is  based  on  network  drive  tests  in  the  majority  of  urban  Canadian  centres  within  Rogers  Wireless  footprint,  comparing  voice  services  of  the  major  wireless  providers.  Voice  clarity  may 
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^  WIRELESS 

AJAX 

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AURORA 
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BOLTON 
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BRAMPTON 
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first  Markham  Place 

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1905  Avenue  Rd 
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Fairview  Mall 

(415)  492-8800 
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(416)  493-3493 
260  Sheppard  Ave.  W. 

(416)  512-0012 
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PICKERING 
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550  Hwy-  7  East 
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(905)  737-8737 
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4438  Sheppard  Ave  E  .  Unit  (H07 
(416)  542-8888 
1291  Kennedy  Rd 
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5095  Sheppard  Ave.  E. 
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4771-4779  Steeles  Ave.  E, 

(416)  335-7100 
5661  Steeles  Ave  E-.  Unit  5 
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THORNHILL 
7700  Bathurst  St  ,  Unit  46 
(905)  882-9777 

TORONTO 
604  Bloor  St,  W, 
(416)  531-9238 
2400  Bloor  St  W 
(416)  760-7450 
540  Church  St 
(416)  644-9044 
272  Danforth  Ave 

(416)  461-1010 
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421  Dundas  St  W  .  Unit  G8 
(416)  351-0888 
1451  Dundas  St  W 
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MARKHAM 
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Don  Mills  Centre 

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science@thevarsity.ca 


//ALZHEIMER  CENTENNIAL 


•  Alois  Alzheimer,  the  German  psychia- 
trist for  whom  the  disease  is  named,  first 
described  the  characteristic  plaques  and 
tangles  of  the  disease  through  an  autopsy 
of  a  brain.  Until  the  eighties,  many  consid- 
ered Alzheimer's  disease  a  normal  part  of 
aging. 

•  With  more  funding  and  the  invention 
of  new  scientific  techniques,  Alzheimer's 
disease  was  theorized  to  be  caused  by  an 
"amyloid  cascade,"  where  aggregates  of 
the  brain  protein  amyloid-beta  are  over- 
produced and  become  the  main  cause  of 
neurodegeneration.  For  many  sufferers, 
the  aggregation  is  caused  by  an  abnor- 
mal gene  passed  down  through  families. 
However,  late-onset  sporadic  cases  of 
Alzheimer's  disease — those  with  all  the 
signs  of  the  disease  but  without  a  genetic 
basis — has  complicated  the  "amyloid 
cascade"  theory  into  an  ongoing  debate. 
Today,  this  is  the  most  common  type  of 
Alzheimer's  disease. 

•  Scientists  began  to  unravel  the  genetic 
causes  of  Alzheimer's  disease  by  looking 
at  several  faulty  genes.  A  gene  on  chromo- 
some 21,  called  the  APP  gene,  encodes  a 
precursor  to  the  amyloid-beta  plaques 
implicated  In  Alzheimer's  disease.  Indi- 
viduals with  Down  syndrome  have  an  ex- 
tra copy  of  chromosome  21  and  are  more 
likely  to  be  afflicted.  Mutations  in  the  gene 
that  codes  the  protein  presenilin,  involved 
in  the  cleavage  of  the  APP  precursor  into 
amyloid-beta,  are  also  key  contributors  to 
Alzheimer's  disease. 

Treatment  for  Alzheimer's  disease  ap- 
peared in  the  nineties.  Donepezil,  the  first 
Alzheimer's  disease  drug,  was  approved 
for  use  in  1997.  The  drug  works  by  main- 
taining high  levels  of  acetylcholine,  a  neu- 
rotransmitter, to  help  memory  function 
despite  the  destruction  of  brain  cells  due 
to  the  disease. 

•  Research  targeting  amyloid-beta  and 
its  precursors  has  progressed  in  mice 
models  of  Alzheimer's  disease.  U  of  T  sci- 
entists recently  identified  a  drug  that  pre- 
vents amyloid-beta  from  aggregating  in 
mice  showing  Alzheimer's  disease  symp- 
toms. The  drug  prevented  any  additional 
cognitive  damage  the  disease  would  have 
caused  if  allowed  to  progress.  Another 
drug,  Flurizan,  is  in  phase  3  clinical  trials 
cind  works  by  lowering  levels  of  plaque 
precursors. 

For  Alzheimer's  disease  researchers, 
stem-cell  therapies,  prevention  mecha- 
nisms (like  lowered  caloric  intake)  and  ge- 
netic screens  are  among  today's  priorities. 
However,  there  are  still  a  number  of  unan- 
swered questions — for  instance,  the  role 
of  the  "tangles"  Alzheimer  first  observed 
in  1906.  With  modern  tools  like  the  MRl, 
studying  and  diagnosing  neurodegenera- 
tion is  no  longer  done  as  Alois  Alzheimer 
did  a  century  ago,  on  the  autopsy  table. 
-VARSITY  STAFF 


Top,  a  MRl  of  a  brain  with  Alzheimer's 
disease.  Above,  a  normal  brain. 


Spawning  the  Genpet  generation 


Jennifer  Bates 


Anyone  growing  up  in  the  nineties  will  never  for- 
get the  virtual  pet  fad  that  took  pre-teen  North 
America  by  storm.  After  all,  who  didn't  raise, 
neglect,  and  repeatedly  resurrect  their  pet  Tama- 
gotchi? 

Today,  another  pseudo-pet  is  seizing  the  at- 
tention of  the  modern  world.  Known  as  Genpets, 
these  fetal-shaped,  fleshy-looking,  disturbingly 
realistic  creatures  have  people  clambering  to  buy 
them. 

But  they're  not  for  sale.  Selling  them  would  de- 
feat the  purpose,  said  Toronto-based  artist  and 
the  creator  of  Genpets,  Adam  Brandejs. 

A  recent  OCAD  graduate,  Brandejs  created 
Genpets  as  his  artistic  contribution  to  the  global 
controversy  of  bioengineering.  He  shows  Gen- 
pets around  the  world  to  challenge  views  about 
bioengineering,  consumerism  and  the  commod- 
itization  of  life. 

"1  see  this  generation  slowly  and  systematically 
being  desensitized  towards  owning  and  manipu- 
lating life,"  said  Brandejs  in  his  artists'  statement. 

Genpets  are  unquestionably  lifelike — they're 
designed  to  convince.  Each  rubbery-skinned 
Genpet  has  been  electronically  animated  to 
twitch  and  jerk  while  strapped  inside  its  plastic 
packaging.  A  built-in  heart  monitor  ominously 
beeps  in  the  background.  The  Genpets  are  colour 
coded  to  correspond  to  the  personality  trait  they 
will  have  when  reawakened  from  their  induced 
hibernation. 

Brandejs  goes  even  further  to  cultivate  the 
Genpets'  mystique.  His  website  introduces  Gen- 
pets as  living,  breathing,  genetically  engineered 
creations  of  a  convincing  bioengineering  com- 
pany, Bio-Genica.  The  website  touts  Genpets  as 
"living  pets,  but  better,  modified  to  be  as  reliable, 
dependable  and  efficient  as  any  other  technology 
we  use  in  our  busy  lives." 

"A  lot  of  days,  [the  website]  gets  up  to  a  million 
hits  per  day,  which  is  great  for  exposing  the  work 
to  a  wide  audience,"  said  Brandejs.  "It's  gained 
a  lot  of  interest  it  wouldn't  have  in  a  gallery  set- 
ting." 


Adam  Brandejs,  in  front  of  a  wall  of  Genpets,  is  not  afraid  to  add  controversy  to  the  already  difficult  ethics  of 
bioengineering. 


For  a  month  in  the  fall  of  2005,  Genpets  hung  in 
the  store  window  of  Iodine  and  Arsenic,  a  Queen 
Street  West  salon  that  regularly  features  local  art- 
ists' work. 

"It  was  a  great  exhibit  because. ..people  didn't 
know  what  the  hell  was  going  on.  They  thought 
they  were  real.  They  thought  they  weren't  real. 
They  thought  they  were  for  sale,  that  they  weren't 
for  sale,"  said  Julie  Nadalin,  the  owner  of  Iodine 
and  Arsenic.  "Late  at  night,  people  would  just  be 
standing  there.. .in  the  front  of  the  building  going 
'Oh  my  God!  Oh  my  God!'" 

"There  were  some  people  who  were  offended 
by  them,"  said  Nadalin.  "People  didn't  get  it  until 
you  explained  it  to  them." 

"We've  seen  time  and  time  again  that  the  in- 


troduction of  foreign  species  into  a  new  environ- 
ment causes  unforeseen  problems,  and  yet,  that's 
just  what  bioengineering  aims  to  do,"  Brandejs 
remarked. 

After  the  exhibit  closed,  Nadalin  received  per- 
sistent phone  calls  from  people  who  wanted  to 
buy  a  Genpet.  With  such  a  following,  Brandejs 
argued  that  his  work  has  a  more  encompassing 
message. 

"We've  been  taught  to  desire  anything  with 
glossy  packaging  and  a  lot  of  people  comment 
on  wanting  one  because  of  this,  and  then  have  to 
question  whether  or  not  they  should  because  it's 
an  animal,"  said  Brandjs. 

Genpets  will  be  back  in  Toronto  at  Paul  Petro 
Contemporary  Art  on  September  30. 


It  may  be  your  DNA 


In  search  of  the  gene  for  OCD 


Karen  Zhou 


There  may  be  a  genetic  explanation  for  why  that 
guy  next  door  washes  his  hands  for  hours,  or 
repeatedly  checks  the  lock  on  his  front  door. 
He  is  among  the  two  per  cent  of  the  population 
that  suffers  from  obsessive-compulsive  disor- 
der (OCD),  a  neuropsychiatric  anxiety  disor- 
der which  new  research  pinpoints  to  a  genetic 
cause. 

The  support  for  a  genetic  explanation  for  OCD 
comes  from  researchers  at  U  of  T  and  their  col- 
leagues at  the  University  of  Michigan.  In  dual 
research  papers  published  in  July,  the  groups 
reported  a  link  between  OCD  and  a  gene  encod- 
ing a  glutamate  transporter  in  the  brain  called 
SLCIAI. 

"We  found  that  a  variant  of  this  gene  is  con- 
sistently transmitted  to  a  person  with  OCD," 
said  Dr.  Paul  Arnold,  a  psychiatrist  at  Hospital 
for  Sick  Children  and  the  lead  investigator  of  the 
Toronto  group. 

Neurotransmitters,  the  molecules  relaying 
information  between  brain  cells,  must  pass 
through  gateways,  or  transporters,  which  con- 
trol the  flow  of  molecules.  A  transporter  of  gluta- 
mate, a  type  of  neurotransmitter,  is  encoded  by 
the  gene  SLCIAI.  Researchers  decided  to  focus 
on  this  gene  in  OCD  patients  for  two  reasons.  In 
a  genome  scan  of  OCD  patients,  the  region  of  the 
genome  most  strongly  associated  with  OCD  was 
found  to  contain  the  SLCIAI  gene.  The  function 
of  the  glutamate  neurotransmitter  in  the  brain 
as  correlating  with  OCD  was  another  point  of 
interest. 


While  these  results  are  encouraging,  Arnold 
cautioned  that  we  don't  exactly  know  what  the 
variant  of  this  gene  means — does  it  affect  the 
function  of  the  gene  or  is  it  a  marker  of  some- 
thing else? 

"It's  possible  we  are  just  in  the  right  general 
area  of  the  gene,"  explained  Arnold.  "For  exam- 
ple, we  know  the  problem  is  in  Toronto,  but  we 
don't  know  if  it's  in  North  York  or  Scarborough." 

Until  now,  the  serotonin  system,  another 
neurotransmitter,  has  been  the  focus  of  OCD 
research.  While  drugs  that  make  use  of  the  se- 
rotonin system  help  alleviate  OCD  symptoms, 
it's  possible  the  medication  is  inadvertently  tar- 
geting another  system,  like  the  glutamate  trans- 
porter system. 

"Disorders  like  OCD  are  probably  quite  com- 
plex," said  Arnold.  "It's  quite  conceivable  that 
genes  in  both  the  glutamate  and  serotonin  sys- 
tems could  be  involved  in  some  kind  of  combina- 
tion that  we  don't  really  understand." 

Although  the  research  points  to  a  strong  bio- 
logical basis  for  OCD,  the  possibility  of  environ- 
mental influences  can  never  be  left  out  of  the 
picture. 

"Genes  act  within  an  environmental  context," 
said  Arnold.  "Take  a  gene  for  aggression,  anoth- 
er behavioural  trait  that  is  thought  to  have  a  ge- 
netic component.  If  you  are  in  a  situation  where 
aggression  makes  you  survive.. .that's  a  good 
thing  with  regards  to  enhancing  your  ability  to 
pass  on  your  genes.  But  if  you  are  put  in  a  situ- 
ation where. ..being  aggressive  makes  you  stand 
out  from  a  group  and  you  may  get  punished  for 
it,  that's  not  such  a  good  thing  anymore." 


SGANNiR 


Less  may  be  more 


A  new  study  shows  that 
performing  three  ses- 
sions a  week  of  short  but 
intense  bouts  of  exercise 
separated  by  a  few  min- 
utes of  recovery  can  pro- 
vide the  same  benefits 
as  two  hours  of  daily 
moderate  exercise.  One 
test  group  performed 
strenuous  but  short  pe- 
riods of  cycling  while 
another  underwent 
endurance  training.  In 
two  weeks,  both  groups 
showed  similar  improve- 
ments in  exercise  perfor- 
mance and  resistance  to 

muscle  fatigue.  So  the  good  news  is  you  don't  need 
to  work  out  as  often,  but  the  bad  news  is  you  won't 
have  cm  excuse  to  avoid  studying! 
Source:  Journal  of  Applied  Physiology 


Spice  it  up 


The  next  time  your  doctor  tells  you  to  lay  off  the 
spicy  food,  tell  him  this.  Researchers  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Texas  Medical  Branch  at  Galveston  have 
found  that  the  active  ingredient  of  turmeric,  a  cur- 
ry spice,  works  in  the  lab  to  fight  several  types  of 
cancer,  including  colorectal  cancer.  The  ingredi- 
ent is  called  curcumin  and  has  successfully  fought 
skin  and  breast  tumour  cells.  It  also  reduces  the 
ability  for  cancer  cells  in  a  laboratory  culture  to 
migrate,  possibly  inhibiting  malignant  cancers 
from  spreading  to  other  organs  in  the  body. 
Source:  Clinical  Cancer  Research 
— MAYCEAL-SUKHNI 


8   THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  21, 2006  I     I      m  k  review@thevarsity.ca 


Avant 
experimental 


Innovative  indie  test  fetes 
Toronto's  Music  Gallery 


Alex  Molotkow 


The  Music  Gallery  is  a  significant  part  of 
Toronto's  cultural  history.  For  20  years,  the 
centre  has  been  both  a  haven  for  and  advo- 
cate of  experimental  artists  of  all  sounds  and 
styles.  After  15  years  of  relative  transience, 
the  gallery  found  a  semi-permanent  home 
at  the  church  of  St.  George  the  Martyr  on 
John  Street,  just  off  Queen  West.  This  years' 
X-Avant,  a  four-day  celebration  of  cerebral 
and  experimental  music,  is  the  culmination 
and  celebration  of  these  developments. 

"Our  season  has  never  started  with  much 
fanfare,"  says  Jonny  Bunce,  the  centre's  co- 
artistic  director  and  publicist.  "We  thought, 
there  are  new  artistic  directors,  there's  a 
new  mission  statement — we  wanted  to  do 
something  to  say,  'Hey,  we're  back!'" 

The  great  mishmash  kicks  off  today  with 


New  York  City-based  artist  Joe  McPhee,  a 
multi-instrumentalist  with  over  50  years 

of  experience  in  improvisational  jazz.  Join- 
ing him  on  the  bill  is  Toronto's  Deep  Dark 
United  who  are  part  of  the  Blocks  Record- 
ing Club  (Final  Fantasy,  Creeping  Nobodies, 
Ninja  High  School)  that  act  as  free  jazz's  am- 
bassador to  the  local  indie  rock  scene. 

Also,  a  multimedia  demonstration  titled 
SLIP  will  be  unveiled  on  Wednesday  night. 
The  event — which  takes  place  at  Harrison 
Steam  Baths,  across  the  street  from  the 
church  will  mix  singing,  dancing,  drumming, 
and  swimming.  It  may  also  contain  nudity, 
so  start  lining  up  now. 

"We  wanted  to  do  something  that  was  a  lit- 
tle different,  like  an  electronic  music-orient- 
ed night,  sort  of  inspired  by  Mutek,"  Bunce 
says  of  the  Festival's  electronic  contingent. 


To  this  end,  the  Music  Gallery  collaborated 
with  web-based  journal  Vague  Terrain  to 
present  Berlin's  Jan  Jelinek  at  the  Drake  Ho- 
tel this  Saturday  night. 

The  festival's  easiest  sell  is  likely  to  be  a 
performance  by  Om,  on  Friday  night.  This 
duo  of  Dead  Meadow  disciples  rose  from  the 
ashes  of  the  much-loved  stoner  metal  band 
Sleep,  and  have  won  wide-spread  critical  ac- 
claim from  all  the  usual  tastemakers. 

However,  the  name  that's  getting  the 
most  buzz  in  advance  of  X-Avant  is  legend- 
ary minimalist  composer  and  experimental 
pioneer  Tony  Conrad,  who  is  responsible 
for  naming  The  Velvet  Underground  (among 
many  other  things). 

Over  the  years,  Conrad  (a  musician,  film- 
maker and  one-time  mathematician)  has 
played  with  great  innovators  like  John  Cale, 


Faust,  and  he  has  regularly  appeared  in  the 
footnotes  of  Just  about  every  avant-garde 

scholar  since  the  late  '60s. 

Surprisingly,  for  Bunce,  booking  Conrad — 
a  celebrity,  to  say  the  least — was  as  simple 
as  sending  an  e-mail.  Conrad  jumped  at  the 
opportunity  after  playing  the  Music  Gallery 
a  few  years  back.  "I  think  it  was  just  a  mat- 
ter of  us  putting  the  effort  in  to  say,  'Hey, 
we're  still  here,  we  want  you  to  come  here 
and  play,'"  Bunce  notes. 

X-Avant  serves  to  reassert  the  Music  Gal- 
lery's presence  to  its  longtime  friends,  make 
an  introduction  to  newcomers,  and  provide 
a  point  of  contact  between  audiences  who 
might  not  have  much  in  common.  Whether 
you're  a  H^/'re-subscribing  avant-garde  devo- 
tee or  just  a  curious  bystander,  you're  bound 
to  find  something  of  interest  here. 


Killer  Klosterman 


Post-Pomo  journo  explains  the  mysterious  popularity  of  Jet 


Chandler  Levack 

ASSOCIATE  ARTS  EDITOR 


Chuck  Klosterman  is  the  most  impor- 
tant cultural  writer  of  our  time.  And  I 
don't  feel  this  way  because  we  once 
spent  an  hour  discussing  Radiohead 
in  a  hotel  room.  It's  because  Chuck 
Klosterman  is  the  only  writer  who's 
truly  evolved  from  writing  about 
postmodernity  and  the  cultural  rami- 
fications of  Reality  TV.  He's  advanced 
(more  about  that  later),  and  this  an- 
thology Chuck  Klosterman  IV:  A  De- 
cade of  Curious  People  and  Dangerous 
Ideas,  proves  that  he's  the  guy  who 
understands  our  cultural  climate 
here  in  the  zero's. 

Take,  for  example,  his  feature 
about  Britney  Spears.  While  Klos- 
terman grills  the  former  Mouseke- 


BOOK  REVIEW 


Chuck  Klosterman  FV:  A 
Decade  of  Curious  People 
and  Dangerous  Ideas 


by  Chuck  Klosterman 


Scribner 


Rating:  VWW 


teer  on  the  subject  of  her  iconogra- 
phy (particularly  for  the  "Baby  One 
More  Time"  video).  Spears  demurs, 
stating  that  her  song  "Tm  a  Slave  4  U" 
is  "just  about  being  a  slave  to  the  mu- 
sic." Spears,  Klosterman  explains,  is 


culturally  interesting  because  of  her 
own  lack  of  self-awareness.  A  feature 
on  Val  Kilmer  (so  crazy  it's  amaz- 
ing) addresses  similar  themes.  Not 
only  are  famous  people  more  fucked 
up,  they're  also  less  perceptive.  It's 
these  very  pontifications,  previously 
discussed  in  his  earlier  works  Sex, 
Drugs  and  Cocoa  Puffs  and  the  neo- 
New  Journalism  book  Killing  Yourself 
to  Live  that  make  Klosterman  a  post- 
postmodernist  thinker  He  really  does 
want  to  know  why  Britney  Spears  is 
interesting,  what  makes  Paris  Hilton 
famous,  and  in  one  piece  written  for  a 
Fargo,  ND  paper,  what  happens  if  you 
eat  nothing  but  chicken  nuggets  for  a 
week.  These  things  are  vital. 
A  series  of  introductions  and  glori- 

SEE  'KLOSTERMAN'  -  NEXT  PAGE 


Kloster-phobic:  Chuck  Klosterman  wants  Britney  to  know  she's  a  living  joke 


review@thevarsity.ca 


VARSITY  ARTS  &  ENTERTAINMENT 


THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  21, 2006  9 


■KLOSTERMAN'  -  CONTINUED  FROM  LAST  PAGE 

ous  footnotes  help  the  reader  get  acquainted 
with  the  now  self-conscious  Klosterman  who 
debates  the  merits  of  his  past  work  and  be- 
rates his  lack  of  literary  prowess.  Yet,  the  broad 
spectrum  of  work  makes  this  anthology  excit- 
ing. Not  only  do  you  get  his  greatest  hits  (his 
famous  Radiohead  interview,  the  zaniest  col- 
umns, and  why  he  hates  the  Olympics)  but  also 
B-sides  and  rarities. 

Klosterman  has  no  high/low  culture  distinc- 
tion, which  is  an  admirable  quality  for  a  pop- 
cultural  journalist.  In  an  interview  with  Wilco's 
Jeff  Tweedy  the  day  before  he  entered  rehab. 
Chuck  off-handedly  comments  on  Tweedy's  10- 
year-old  son  doing  Jet  covers  in  his  grade  school 
band.  Tweedy  responds  with  the  observation 
"Well,  you  like  rock  music,  don't  you?"  Klos- 
terman instantly  regrets  his  mistake.  Jet  truly 
represents  everything  that  rock  music  has  ever 
been.  A  song  like  "Are  You  Gonna  Be  My  Girl," 
sounds  like  rock  music  ought  to  sound.  It  just  so 
happens  that  popular  culture  has  forcibly  made 
Jet  unbearably  lame.  Klosterman  realizes  his 
bluff,  and  in  a  later  column,  articulates  the  fact 
that  there  are  no  guilty  pleasures,  only  cultural 
occasions.  We  love  the  things  we  do  because 
they're  worth  loving. 

But  perhaps  the  most  seminal  piece  is  Klos- 
terman's  article  on  the  theory  of  advancement. 
Advancement  is  "a  cultural  condition  where  an 
Advanced  Individual — a  true  genius — creates  a 
piece  of  art  that  99  percent  of  the  population 
perceives  is  bad."  (Lou  Reed,  of  course,  is  a  pre- 
miere example.)  To  prove  his  point,  Klosterman 
states  that  if  Radiohead  released  an  album  of 
mechanized  droning  (I  can  think  of  a  bunch  of 
bands  who  do  this  all  the  time,  proving  that 
droning  is  now  pretty  de  rigueur)  that  would  be 
predictable.  If  they  released  a  glam  record,  that 
would  be  overt.  But  if  Radiohead  released  an 
album  of  blues  standards,  they  would  advance. 
Advancement  is  a  condition  of  music  today.  So 
many  bands  are  trying  to  advance  by  becoming 
the  most  unlikely  combination  of  everything, 
that  they're  actually  just  overt.  Advancement  is 
a  complicated  theory  (Klosterman  states  that 
even  he's  confused)  but  totally  necessary  to 
our  post-post  modern  age.  We're  even  advanc- 
ing as  I  write. 


//  Department  of  sometimes 
getting  it  wrong 


Last  week  we  predicted  that  the  first  annu- 
al Polaris  Music  Prize  would  go  to  Broken 
Social  Scene  for  their  self-titled  LP,  but  we 
were  wrong.  On  Monday  night  the  eleven- 
person  panel  met  during  the  awards  cer- 
emony at  the  Phoenix  Concert  Theatre  to 
choose  the  inaugural  winner,  and  agreed 
to  bestow  the  honour  upon  Toronto's 
own  Owen  Pallett  (AKA  Final  Fantasy)  for 
his  second  full-length  He  Poos  Clouds.  By 
not  giving  the  award  to  the  universally 
lauded  Broken  Social  Scene,  who  picked 
up  this  year's  Best  Alternative  Album  at 
the  Junos,  the  Polaris  jury  signaled  that 
its  choice  would  be  distinct  from  the 
anything  remotely  mainstream,  setting  a 
precedent  that's  both  refreshing  and  ac- 
cessible. Bravo  Owen!  — J.B. 


Final  Fantasy  picks  up  a  Polaris 


scotiabank  nult  blanche 


:  an  all-night 

contemporary  art  festival 


let's  spend  the  night  together 

Saturday,  September  30 
7  p.m.  ~  7  a.m. 

From  dusk  'til  dawn,  the  University  of  Toronto  will  be  transformed  into  an  avenue  of  the 
arts  with  nocturnal  instaliations,  performance-based  art,  musical  encounters,  poetry, 
drania,  fiim  and  more.  Three  campus  art  galleries  will  also  be  open  throughout  the 
night.  Poetry  slam.s  at  the  School  of  Continuing  Studies,  blanket  architecture  at 
Hart  House,  and  many  more  events  to  feed  the  soui  and  expand  the  mind. 

For  a  fuil  event  listing  visit  www.arts.utoronto.ca 

Events  are  free. 

This  U  of  T  sv.3nt  IS  made  possible  through  support  from  {he  OtJice  of  the 
Vice-Pfesidsni  and  Provost,  me  U  of  T  Arts  Council,  and  our  pariicipsiing  panners 


$j  UNIVERSITY 
''/TORONTO 


10  THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  21, 2006 


VARSITY  SPORTS 


sports@thevarsity.ca 


Pigskin  pick  'em: 
Colts  buck  Jaguars 

JONAS  SIEGEL  takes  on  three  of  this  weekend's  games 


Jacksonville  at  Indianapolis 

As  tempted  as  I  am  to  go  with  the  red-hot  Jacksonville  Jaguars  against  Indy,  I  just 
can't  pick  against  Manning  and  Co.  at  home.  The  Jags  are  finally  being  mentioned 
as  one  of  the  NFL's  elite  after  a  9-0  shutout  of  Super  Bowl  champion's  the  Pittsburgh 
Steelers. 

But  let's  put  that  game  into  perspective.  First,  it  was  Big  Ben  Roethlisberger's  first 
game  of  the  year  after  coming  back  from  an  off-season  motorcycle  injury  that  nearly 
took  his  life  and  an  appendectomy  he  had  right  before  the  season  that  benched  him 
for  the  first  game.  He  looked  a  little  uncomfortable,  to  say  the  least.  Second,  the 
Steeler  offence  is  like  hamburger  meat  compared  to  the  Colts'  palette-cleansing  filet 
mignon.  Indy  has  put  up  69  points  in  its  first  two  games,  all  without  the  services  of 
the  now-departed  RB  Edgerrin  James.  Look  for  it  to  be  a  close  game,  with  the  Colts 
hanging  on  in  the  end  by  a  touchdown. 

NY  Giants  at  Seattle 

The  Giants  have  to  be  feeling  good  after  stealing  a  game  in  Philly  last  week.  Eli  Man- 
ning has  started  to  have  his  name  mentioned  amongst  the  elite  QBs  after  putting 
together  a  string  of  two  superb  games  (5  total  TDs,  309  yards  per  game)  against  the 
Colts  and  Eagles  respectively.  But  look  for  Eli  to  struggle  against  one  of  the  game's 
premiere  defences  in  Seattle.  Last  week,  the  Seahawks  held  WR  Larry  Fitzgerald  and 
the  Cardinals'  powerful  offence  to  a  measly  256  total  yards  of  offence  (completely 
shutting  down  the  running  game,  holding  it  to  just  65  yards).  Seattle's  recently  ac- 
quired WR  Deion  Branch  will  also  make  his  team  debut,  adding  to  the  Seahawks' 
already  stacked  offence  that  includes  last  year's  MVP  in  running  back  Shaun  Alexan- 
der, all-star  QB  Matt  Hasselbeck,  and  oft-injured  WR  Darrell  Jackson.  I  see  this  game 
being  ultra-competitive,  but  Eli  will  struggle  and  the  Seahawks  will  pull  away  in  the 
fourth  quarter  to  start  their  season  at  3-0.  Not  to  knock  Eli,  but  this  is  a  top-notch 
defence  playing  at  home. 

Carolina  at  Tampa  Bay 

This  game  pits  a  pair  of  pre-season  Super  Bowl  contenders  now  standing  at  0-2.  The 
outcome  could  potentially  determine  the  faith  of  each  team's  season.  The  Panthers 
and  Bucs  were  both  looked  upon  as  perfect  models  of  success  in  the  new  NFL;  com- 
bining a  powerful  running  game  with  an  excellent  defence.  But  neither  has  performed 
so  far,  with  both  defences  looking  anything  but  stellar  and  their  running  games  being 
non-existent  (especially  in  Tampa  where  Cadillac  appears  to  be  stalled  in  park,  with 
only  59  rushing  yards  in  two  games).  One  will  leave  the  game  thinking  about  next  year 
and  1  think  that  team  will  be  Tampa  Bay.  Prior  to  this  season,  Bucs  Head  Coach  Jon 
Gruden  was  in  constant  praise  of  young  QB  Chris  Simms,  but  that  praise  has  quickly 
turned  sour.  Last  week  against  the  Falcons,  Gruden  was  seen  shouting  at  Simms  on 
the  sidelines,  after  the  QB  was  intercepted  and  had  several  balls  batted  down  by  the 
Falcons  D.  Look  for  Tampa  to  finally  self-destruct,  with  Simms  being  pulled  in  favour 
of  pre-season  sensation  Bruce  Gradkowski. 
Last  week:  2-2.  Season  to  date:  2-2. 


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/ananne  I 


Blue  balls 


Defensive  back  George  Polyzois  is  alone  in  contemplation  during  the  closing  moments 
of  the  Blues'  loss  to  Waterloo.  After  climbing  to  a  10-0  lead,  U  of  T  was  outscored 
28-15  in  the  second  half  by  the  Warriors,  who  defeated  the  Blues  28-25  Saturday  at 
Birchmount  Stadium. 


Christophe  Poirier 

SPORTS  EDITOR 


In  what  may  have  been  U  of  T 
football's  best  chance  at  a  win  all 
season,  the  Blues  lost  their  home- 
opener  28-25  against  Waterloo  Sat- 
urday at  Birchmount  Stadium. 

Before  the  game  began,  both 
teams  were  0-2,  each  desperately 
seeking  a  win.  The  Blues  struck 
first,  just  1:37  into  the  game.  They 
opened  with  a  four-play  86-yard 
drive  culminating  with  Mark  Stin- 
son's  six-yard  scamper  into  the 
end  zone  from  the  slotback  posi- 
tion. 

After  two  misses  by  kicker  Jo- 
seph Valtellini  in  the  first  quarter, 
he  connected  on  a  20-yard  field 
goal  in  the  closing  seconds  of  the 
first  half  to  put  the  Blues  up  10-0. 

The  second  half  was  all  Warriors, 
as  they  opened  with  an  eight-play, 
85-yard  drive  and  notching  their 
first  on  the  board  with  an  11-yard 
touchdown  run  by  Travis  Gellatly. 
Near  the  end  of  the  third  quarter, 
Waterloo  quarterback  Jon  Morbey 
found  wide  receiver  Sean  Cowie 
for  a  30-yard  score.  After  the  Blues 
offence  sputtered  and  turned  over 
the  ball  to  the  Warriors,  Morbey 
showed  off  his  speed  with  a  75- 
yard  run  in  the  opening  minutes  of 


the  final  quarter. 

Trailing  21-10  in  the  fourth,  the 
Blues  responded  with  a  68-yard 
drive  that  found  paydirt  on  Stin- 
son's  seven-yard  run  for  six.  U  of 
T  quarterback  David  Hamilton 
found  receiver  Tony  Mammoliti 
for  the  two-point  conversion,  but 
the  Warriors  quickly  countered. 
Morbey  found  Cowie  again  for  a 
16-yard  touchdown  pass,  running 
the  score  to  28-18. 

With  1:26  remaining,  the  Blues 
attempted  the  comeback,  as  Ham- 
ilton and  Stinson  connected  for  a 
14-yard  score.  After  Valtellini's  ex- 
tra-point, the  Blues  lined  up  for  the 
onside  kick,  but  the  ball  would  not 
bounce  U  of  T's  way.  Time  expired 
on  the  Blues,  and  Waterloo  came 
out  with  the  victory. 

Stinson,  who  accounted  for  all 
the  Blues  touchdowns,  received  U 
of  T's  game  honours  with  his  nine 
catches  for  94  yards  and  10  carries 
for  57  more.  Hamilton  was  25  for  37 
in  pass  attempts,  accumulating  347 
yards  through  the  air,  with  Mam- 
moliti being  his  main  recipient  at" 
138  yards  on  six  catches.  Valtellini 
converted  one  of  five  field  goal  at- 
tempts. 

Next  up,  the  Blues  travel  to 
Guelph  to  take  on  the  0-2  Gry- 
phons this  Saturday. 


LOGAJN 

UNIVERSITY 

Chesterfield  (St.  Louis  area),  Missouri 


www.logan.edu 

1-800-533-9210 

loganadm@logan.edu 


r 


The  Varsity 


THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  21, 2006 


11 


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theVARSlTY 


MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  25, 2006 


1 

REEFER  MADNESS 
HITS  HART  HOUSE 
REVIEW //P.  7 

'Pothead 
prof  gets 
smoking 
room 


Amy  Smithers 

ASSOCIATE  NEWS  EDITOR 


As  of  this  week,  Trinity  College  phi- 
losophy professor  Doug  Hutchinson 
will  be  authorized  to  smoke  marijuana 
openly  on  campus. 

In  a  statement  sent  to  university 
administrators  and  philosophy  de- 
partment faculty  members  Friday, 
Hutchinson  revealed  he  has  been  us- 
ing marijuana  as  a  therapeutic  treat- 
ment for  a  chronic  health  condition 
for  over  ten  years. 
"I  was  'outed'  by  College  authorities 
from  where  I  was  hiding  in  my  'dope 
closet',"  his  statement  said.  It  also  said 
that  the  process  of  getting  permission 
to  puff  was  long  and  ugly,  but  ultimate- 
ly fruitful. 

He  has  now  been  given  a  ventilated 
smoking  room  in  the  basement  of  Trin- 
ity College,  and  the  provosts  of  both 
the  college  and  the  university  have 
written  him  letters  commending  his 
choice. 

"Over  the  course  of  the  months  of 
sometimes  angry  discussions,  the  oth- 
er side  learned  better  what  the  facts  of 
my  case  and  the  laws  on  marijuana  ac- 
tually are,"  said  his  statement. 

"I'm  quite  impressed  with  the  univer- 
sity, and  the  fact  that  they're  giving 
him  a  room  to  smoke,"  said  Paul  Egan, 
a  graduate  student  who  majored  in 
philosophy  as  an  undergrad.  "Anyone 
who  knows  Hutchinson  knows  he  has 
some  pretty  impressive  credentials. 
I  don't  think  [his  teaching]  will  be  af- 
fected. The  fact  that  he  can  teach  a 
class  on  Seneca  while  high  is  incred- 
ible." 

Hutchinson  said  he  was  aware  of 
the  possible  impact  to  his  credibility 
as  a  professor,  but  wished  to  come 
out  publicly  on  his  own  terms.  So  he 
is  inviting  sceptics  to  evaluate  his  per- 
formance. 
"There  are  10  spare  seats  in  the 
[course  on  the  philosopher  Seneca] 
which  meet  from  10  to  1  on  Tuesdays, 
and  I  invite  [visitors]  to  see  for  them- 
selves whether  the  pot-head  professor 
is  teaching  well. 


SEEP0THEAD'-PG3 


^THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  TORONTO'S  STUDENT  NEWSPAPER  SINCE  1880 


//CHUG  A-LUGl 


St.  Mike's  rugby  player  Sahar  Lakhani  enjoys  a  beverage  after  the  inaugural  intramural  women's  rugby  match  on  Sunday  be- 
tween St.  Michael's  College  against  Engineering,  which  the  engineers  won  27-0.  As  is  the  tradition  in  rugby,  the  two  teams  pick 
their  adversary's  MVP,  who  then  chug  a  cold  beverage  as  a  peace  offering  after  battle. 


www.thevarsity.ca 

VOL.  CXXVII,  NO.  9 

Student 
killed  in 
apparent 
street 
race 


Uschenna  Odi,  a  fourth-year  hon- 
ours student  at  Woodsworth  Col- 
lege, was  killed  last  Tuesday  night 
on  the  Queensway  in  Mississauga. 
The  circumstances  surrounding  the 
incident  appear  to  be  that  of  a  street 
race  between  four  or  five  cars,  two  of 
which  zoomed  up  and  surrounded 
Odi's  pickup  truck,  before  clipping 
the  back  of  the  vehicle  and  causing 
it  to  careen  into  a  street  pole.  Odi 
died  instantly.  Investigators  agree 
that  Odi  was  an  innocent  bystander 
who  had  been  driving  his  friend's 
truck  and  minding  his  own  business 
when  the  accident  occurred. 

Odi  was  from  Nigeria  but  had  reg- 
istered as  a  domestic  student.  He 
had  transferred  from  Abia  State  Uni- 
versity in  2002  and  was  specializing 
in  zoology,  physiology,  and  biology 
at  U  of  T's  Woodsworth  College. 
His  death  is  the  latest  in  a  string  of 
street  racing-related  deaths,  which 
have  prompted  the  Harper  govern- 
ment to  work  on  a  bill  to  make  street 
racing  a  federal  offense. 

The  university's  community  safe- 
ty and  counseling  office  is  available 
to  students  who  may  need  support 
in  dealing  with  Odi's  death. 
-JOSEPHINE  LEE 


//ST.  GEORGE  STUDENT  CENTRE 


Student  centre  levy  likely 


Adnan  Khan 

ASSOCIATE  NEWS  EDITOR 


A  student  centre  for  the  St.  George 
campus  is  an  old  chestnut,  but  this 
week  the  bid  to  build  it  is  set  to  receive 
a  boost. 

A  report,  to  be  presented  at  the 
University  Affairs  Board  meeting  on 
Tuesday,  Sept.  26,  will  recommend  the 
construction  of  another  "large  node  of 
student  activity  space"  and  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  committee  to  begin  plan- 
ning it.  It  also  outlines  ways  to  fund  it, 
which  will  likely  involve  a  student  levy. 

The  report  was  put  together  by  the 
Committee  to  Review  Student  Space 
on  the  St.  George  Campus,  which  has 
examined  the  issue  since  July  2005. 

"There  is  a  sense  that  the  space  is  not 
enough  to  accommodate  huge  student 
needs,"  said  university  president  Da- 
vid Naylor.  "Part  of  the  issue  is  getting 
not  only  more  study  space,  more  infor- 
mal space,  but  a  lot  more  eating  space. 

"1  think  it  would  be  terrific  if  we  could 
actually  provide  a  very  substantial  stu- 
dent commons  on  site  12,"  Naylor  said, 
referring  to  the  empty  parking  lot  on 


Devonshire  Ave.,  beside  Woodsworth 
College  and  across  from  the  Varsity 
arena. 

Student  leaders  also  welcomed  the 
committee's  report. 

"We  are  encouraged  that  the  univer- 
sity is  finally  recognizing  what  SAC  has 
been  long  fighting  for:  a  student-run  fa- 
cility that  can  cater  to  students'  needs," 
said  Students  Administrative  Council 
(SAC)  chairperson  Jen  Hassum. 

In  the  spring  of  2005,  a  SAC  referen- 
dum asked  students  whether  they  sup- 
port the  idea  of  a  centre  that  would  be 
"student  owned  and  operated,  open 
365  days  a  year,"  whose  construction 
would  be  partly  funded  through  a 
levy. 

This  might  range  around  $45  per 
student  a  year,  the  referendum  ques- 
tion hinted.  (Student  centre  levies  at 
UTSC  and  UTM,  meanwhile,  are  $63 
and  $52  a  year  respectively.)  Of  the 
roughly  seven  per  cent  of  St.  George 
students  who  voted  on  the  question, 
57  per  cent  were  in  favour  and  36  per 
cent  opposed  it. 

SEE  ST.  GEORGE' -PG  2 


//WHAT STUDENTS  SAY 


This  spring,  the  student  space 
committee  gauged  the  attitudes 
of  4,135  students  towards  a  St. 
George  student  campus  centre: 


58 

32 


agreed  that  a  central 
space  to  congregate 
on  campus  is  needed 


/o 


80/ 
disagreed 

40%  would  pay  $1-20  for  a 
Student  centre 

24%  would  pay  $20-50  for  it 

8%  would  pay  $50-200 


Carleton's  recipe 
for  disaster 


Andre  Bovee-Begun 


Imagine  coming  to  classes  one  day  and 
finding  the  Sidney  Smith  patio  being 
demolished  and  the  Students  Admin- 
istrative Council  (SAC)  booted  out 
of  their  offices  and  suing  Governing 
Council. 

That's  basically  what  happened  at 
Carleton  University  last  year  when 
plans  to  renovate  the  aging  "Unicen- 
tre,"  the  Ottawa  university's  student 
hub,  spiraled  out  of  control  in  a  bizarre 
and  continuing  squabble  over  who 
controls  and  pays  for  student. 

The  fight  centered  around  the  is- 
sue of  ownership  and  control.  While 
student  leaders  cire  keen  on  exclusive 
control  of  their  student  centres,  uni- 
versities are  generally  loth  to  grant 
them  this  right. 

The  debacle  at  Carleton  began  in 
April  2005,  when  former  Carleton  pres- 
ident Richard  Van  Loon  sent  Carleton 
University  Students'  Union  (CUSA) 
a  letter  telling  them  to  give  up  their 
space  in  the  Unicentre  to  make  room 

SEE  CARLETON' -PG 2 


1 


2   MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  25, 2006 


VARSITY  NEWS 


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experience  Nuit  Blanche.  A  free  all  night  celebration  of 

contemporary  art  in  Toronto. 
The  House  will  be  at  the  hub  of  activities  happening  on 
campus  with  interaaive  art  work  from  Instant  Coffee 
and  FASTWURMS. 


INTHEJUSTINA  M. 
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Stephen  Andrews:  Selected  works  from  the 
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■ST.  GEORGE'  -  CONTINUED  FROM  PG  1 

Yet  despite  the  referendum's  suc- 
cess, the  findings  of  a  student  survey 
conducted  by  the  student  space  com- 
mittee this  spring  reveals  ambivalence 
among  students.  Fifty-eight  per  cent  of 
respondents  said  that  sources  besides 
a  student  levy  should  be  used  to  fund  it, 
and  40  per  cent  said  they  would  only  be 
willing  to  pay  between  one  and  $20. 

And  the  report  recommends  that  the 
university  pitch  in  50  cents  for  every 
student  levy  dollar  raised. 

Aside  from  the  levy  issue,  a  senior 
SAC  official  spoke  to  The  Varsity  earlier 
this  year  of  perceived  opposition  to  a 


student  centre  from  some  of  the  exist- 
ing student  hubs,  such  as  Hart  House. 
"[They  are]  actively  against  it,  I  would 
say,"  the  official  said. 

Speaking  to  these  comments.  Hart 
House  Warden  Margaret  Hancock  said, 
"We  have  always  agreed  that  there  is  a 
need  for  more  student  activity  space," 
adding  that  "Hart  House  has  a  finite 
capacity  and  cannot  be  all  things  to  all 
people." 

To  avoid  such  potential  conflicts  be- 
tween existing  nodes,  the  space  com- 
mittee report  recommends  that  a  net- 
work of  individuals  be  created  who  will 
manage  the  use  of  student  space  on  St. 
George  campus. 


news@thevarsity.ca 


"It  is  my  hope  that  this  network  will 
have  an  intentional  focus  on  how  the 
various  major  nodes  of  student  activ- 
ity space  complement  each  other  in  the 
programs  and  services  offered,"  said 
assistant  director  of  student  affairs  Jim 
Delaney. 

Asked  to  speculate  on  the  odds  of  go- 
ing to  the  students  with  a  plan  on  the  St. 
George  student  centre  this  school  year, 
the  SAC  official  put  them  at  one-in-three 
to  one-in-four. 

"It's  as  good  as  they've  been  in  over  a 
decade,"  the  official  said. 

News  editor  Mike  Ghenu  contributed  to 
this  report 


■CARLETON'  -  CONTINUED  FROM  PG  1 

for  renovations.  Then-president  Car- 
ole Saab  of  CUSA  protested  that  the 
university  was  breaking  a  1996  license 
agreement  that  protects  its  right  to  the 
space. 

The  university  said  it  had  the  right  to 
revoke  the  space  from  CUSA.  The  fact 
that  the  terms  of  the  1996  agreement 
were  kept  secret  only  complicated 
matters. 

Talks  quickly  broke  down,  and  the 
university  pushed  ahead  with  plans 
to  demolish  CUSA's  space,  along  with 
that  of  several  other  student  groups 
and  the  patio  of  a  popular  student- 
run  pub.  Two  weeks  after  the  first  let- 
ter was  sent,  a  demolition  crew  was 
brought  in  on  April  21  at  4  a.m. — an 
hour  before  a  scheduled  sit-in  to  pro- 
test the  demolition. 

Arriving  at  the  site  to  find  it  fenced 
off  and  being  torn  up  by  construc- 
tion workers,  Saab  responded  with  a 


march  on  administration  offices.  The 
next  day,  CUSA  filed  a  lawsuit  seeking 
$500,000  from  the  university. 

The  next  week  and  a  half  saw  six 
protestors  arrested  for  sneaking  past 
construction  barriers,  and  40  students 
led  by  Saab  shutting  down  a  Board  of 
Governors  meeting. 

Talks  reopened  in  early  May  2005, 
and  the  situation  seemed  to  improve 
when  incoming  Carleton  president  Da- 
vid Atkinson  took  office  last  summer 
and  discussed  the  possibility  of  a  new 
student  centre.  CUSA  dropped  its  law- 
suit after  the  university  approved  the 
new  building  and  signed  an  important 
agreement  in  Aug.  2005  that  outlined 
terms  for  the  proposed  building. 

The  saga  did  not  end  there. 

Students  at  Carleton  voted  against 
a  student  fee  increase  of  $11.40  per 
credit  to  pay  for  the  construction  of  a 
brand  new  student  centre.  Speaking  to 
the  Charlatan,  a  campus  paper,  Atkin- 
son said  the  outcome  demonstrated 


that  a  new  building  is  not  a  priority  for 
students.  He  blamed  the  referendum's 
failure  on  the  lack  of  comprehensive 
plans  for  the  building. 

Shawn  Menard,  the  current  presi- 
dent of  CUSA,  has  publicly  stated  that 
the  referendum  was  organized  too 
quickly,  and  the  question  was  worded 
in  a  complicated,  unclear  way.  Student 
groups  have  said  they  will  continue 
to  seek  funding  for  the  new  building 
in  future  semesters,  and  argued  that 
the  university  should  contribute  to  the 
student  centre's  construction,  but  At- 
kinson has  just  dropped  his  support  of 
the  building. 

Now,  CUSA  is  threatening  to  sue 
once  again.  Menard  said  he  hopes  to 
improve  relations  with  Carleton's  ad- 
ministration this  year,  but  accused  the 
university  of  "picking  and  choosing" 
between  the  financial  obligations  in 
the  Aug.  2005  agreement.  In  the  mean- 
time, most  of  the  areas  torn  down  in 
April  2005  remain  under  construction. 


Attention  All  SAC  Members 


The  Student's  Adminstrative  Council  -  your  students' 
union  -  Is  holding  a  byelection  to  fill  vacancies  on 
the  Board  of  Directors  in  the  following  constltuenices. 

Ontario  Institute  for  Studies  in  Education 
Toronto  School  of  Theology 
Transitional  Year  Program 
University  College 

Nomination  Period 

Sept.  18th  at  12  noon  to  Sept.  22nd  at  5  pm 
Second  Nomination  Period 

Sept.  25th  at  12  noon  to  Sept.  29th  at  5  pm 
All  Candidates  Meeting 

Friday  September  29th  at  5pm 
Campaign  Period 

Oct.  2nd  at  12  noon  to  Oct.  13  at  5pm 
Voting  Period 

Oct.  1 1th  at  12  noon  to  Oct.  13  at  5pm 

To  become  a  candidate,  members  of  a  constituency 
can  pick  up  a  candidate  information  package  during 
the  nomination  period  in  the  SAC  office.  If  no 
candidates  are  nominated  for  a  specific  seat, 
nominations  for  these  seats  will  become  open  to  all 
full-time  undergraduates  during  the  second  nomination 
period.  Full  election  rules  are  available  from  SAC. 

For  further  information,  contact  Elections  Committee 
c/o  VP  University  Affairs,  vpua@sac.utoronto.ca 
12  Hart  House  Circle,  University  of  Toronto 
416-978-4911  x230 

Students'  Administrative  Council 


news@thevarsity.ca 


VARSITY  NEWS 


MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  25, 2006 


//  ADMINISTRATORS  CLOWNING  AROUND 


Sporting  "Active  U"  T-shirts,  U  of  T's  top  brass  kicked  off  their  first  fall  with  a  shoe-kick  competition  on  front  campus  last 
Thursday  morning.  Participants  each  kicked  off  a  shoe  to  see  who  could  make  it  fly  the  furthest.  Above,  U  of  T  president  David 
Naylor  and  provost  Vivek  Goel  (front  left)  check  on  a  participant  who  was  left  upended  by  the  experience. 


'POTHEAD'  -  CONTINUED  FROM  PG  1 

"I'm  sure  it  will  influence  his  reputa- 
tion," said  former  philosophy  student 
Jamie  Smith,  who  is  now  working  on 
his  Masters  degree  in  social  and  po- 
litical thought.  "But  it  will  say  more 
about  the  people  who  like  and  dislike 
him  than  it  will  about  him  as  a  per- 
son." 

As  his  pot  privileges  become  pub- 
licized, Hutchison  hopes  his  case 
will  change  the  way  U  of  T  treats 
marijuana.  He  cited  the  case  of  a  Trin- 


ity student  who  was  expelled  from 
residence  for  pot  possession  in  2005. 
Hutchison  claimed  this  action  violat- 
ed the  student's  Charter  rights. 

But  so  far  as  the  relationship  be- 
tween philosophy  and  marijuana  goes, 
the  connection  is  still  up  for  debate. 
"All  activities  and  substances  that 
make  one  think  differently  are  in 
some  sense  philosophical,"  said 
Smith.  "Compared  to  religious  danc- 
ing or  drinking  alcohol  [marijuana]  is 
conducive  to  philosophic  thought — in 
moderation." 


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4   MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  25, 2006 


VARSITY  NEWS 


news@thevarsity.ca 


Excellent. 

On  Thursday,  read  a 
review  of  David  Naylor's 
Jirstyear  in  office 


//NEWS  IN  BRIEF 


At  York  University,  class 
is  on  your  iPod 

Visual  learners  at  York  University  can 
now  use  their  iPods  to  view  lectures 
and  lecture  handouts  on  the  go.  A  new 
first-year  philosophy  course  is  deliv- 
ered entirely  online,  and  is  available 
through  downloadable  video  podcast, 
known  as  "v-casts."  This  course  is  the 
second  in  Canada  to  use  video  pod- 
casting.  Students  can  have  lectures 


and  handouts  sent  to  their  iPods,  can 
download  lectures  in  audio  format, 
or  view  them  on  the  course  website. 
The  site  also  allows  students  to  chat 
with  each  other,  or  book  virtual  office 
hours  with  the  instructor.  While  the 
new  technology  is  important,  students 
are  cautioned  that  the  course  will  not 
necessarily  be  easier  because  of  it; 
the  final  exam  is  still  administered  the 
old-fashioned  way. 
-AMYSMITHERS 


University  denies 
seeking  changes  to 
city's  official  plan 

After  a  report  in  the  Toronto  Star  on 
Friday,  which  stated  that  the  Uni- 
versity of  Toronto  will  be  seeking 
an  exemption  from  tenant-protec- 
tion policies,  U  of  T  is  rushing  to 
do  some  damage  control.  A  letter 
was  sent  to  all  tenants  in  the  Hu- 
ron-Sussex neighbourhood,  claim- 
ing that  a  mistaken  impression  was 
given  by  the  Star  report.  The  Star 


spoke  to  two  elderly  tenants  in  U 
of  T-owned  housing  on  the  west 
side  of  campus  who  feared  evic- 
tion. Contrary  to  claims  in  the  pa- 
per, U  of  T  maintains  that  it  is  not 
appealing  for  exemption  from  the 
Ontario  Municipal  Board's  Official 
Plan.  At  one  point  this  action  was 
considered,  but  the  university  now 
believes  that  their  obligations  can 
be  balanced  with  those  of  the  Plan. 
The  university  denies  that  any 
evictions  have  been  or  are  being 
planned. 
-A.S. 


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COMMENT 


MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  25, 2006  5 


Pope  Benedict's  call  for  peace 


Peter  O'Hagan  

"Show  me  just  what  Mohammed 
brought  that  was  new,  and  there  you 
will  find  things  only  evil  and  inhu- 
man, such  as  his  command  to  spread 
by  the  sword  the  faith  he  preached." 

Anyone  following  the  recent  brou- 
haha over  Pope  Benedict's  speech 
at  the  University  of  Regensburg  will 
recognize  these  as  the  words  of  14th 
century  Byzantine  emperor  Manual 
Paleologos,  quoted  by  Benedict  in  his 
remarks.  In  the  days  that  followed  the 
pope's  speech,  threats  and  protests 
have  poured  in  from  Muslims  around 
the  world. 

The  pope  has  subsequently  stated 


that  he  regrets  the  misunderstand- 
ing caused  by  his  speech;  he  also 
clarified  that  he  does  not  adhere  to 
the  emperor's  views.  Many  Muslims, 
however,  continue  to  threaten  both 
the  pope  and  other  Christians. 

Benedict  made  a  big  blunder,  eh? 
Actually,  no. 

The  pope  was  using  the  debate  be- 
tween the  Christian  emperor  and  the 
Muslim  scholar  as  a  springboard  to  a 
profound  discussion  of  the  relation- 
ship between  faith  and  reason.  His 
point  was  that  the  modern  West  is 
in  the  dangerous  position  of  putting 
reason  and  faith  at  odds  when,  in  fact, 
they  should  work  hand-in-hand. 

Benedict  insists  that  religion  and 


violence  are  incompatible,  which  is 
the  emperor's  point.  The  difference 
between  Paleologos  and  Benedict  is 
that  the  emperor  saw  in  Islam  nothing 
but  violence,  whereas  the  pope  sees  a 
religion  that  worships  the  same  God 
as  Christianity  and  with  whom  there 
is  the  possibility  of  fruitful  dialogue. 

The  only  error  in  this  scenario  was 
made  by  the  Muslim  clerics  and  orga- 
nizations that  blew  a  non-issue  out  of 
proportion.  How  ridiculous  is  it  to  see 
Al-Qaeda  protesting  the  defamation  of 
a  religion  that  they  themselves  deface 
daily  with  their  psychopathic  rants  of 
hatred  and  violence?  How  ironic  is  it 
to  see  people  burning  effigies  and  at- 
tacking churches,  behaviour  which 


merely  proves  the  emperor's  point? 

The  slurs  hurled  at  the  pope  in  the 
wake  of  this  incident  are  far  more  of- 
fensive to  Catholics  than  the  remarks 
of  a  14th  century  emperor  can  possi- 
bly be  for  Muslims.  Yet  there  are  no 
effigies  of  Muhammed  being  burned 
in  protest,  nor  are  mosques  being  at- 
tacked. 

In  fact,  if  Catholics  were  to  react  in 
such  a  violent  and  over-blown  man- 
ner, the  pope  would  be  the  first  to 
denounce  these  actions  as  contrary 
to  reason  and  religion.  This  is  what 
moderate  Muslims  must  do,  and 
thankfully  many  have  done  so. 

The  vast  majority  of  Muslims  are 
not  the  fanatical  types  whose  antics 


tar  the  reputation  of  their  religion. 
The  majority  are,  I  would  hope,  em- 
barrassed and  outraged  at  the  cari- 
cature of  their  faith  which  these  radi- 
cals promote.  Benedict's  upcoming 
trip  to  Turkey  is  a  golden  opportunity 
for  Muslims  to  demonstrate  that  they 
are  as  interested  in  non-violent  inter- 
action as  the  pope  is. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that,  de- 
spite the  bluntness  of  the  Byzantine 
emperor,  he  and  the  Muslim  scholar 
were  apparently  able  to  carry  on  their 
theological  discussion  with  equanim- 
ity. Surely  it  is  time  for  Christians  and 
Muslims  to  put  aside  petty  differences 
and  respond  to  the  pope's  welcome 
call  to  dialogue  with  one  another. 


//CAMPUS  CUISINE  WITH  AMU 


Mosaic  or  meltdown? 


ANJI SAMARASEKERA  challenges  our  cultural  diversity  myth 


A couple  of  weeks  ago  I 
asked  an  international 
student  in  my  orienta- 
tion group  about  his  percep- 
tions of  Canadian  culture  thus 
far.  Bursting  with  pride,  1  waited 
for  the  sugary  praise  he  was 
sure  to  dole  out  with  respect  to 
Toronto's  diversity  and  Canada's 
progressive  multicultureilism 
policy. 

But  instead  of  sweet  acco- 
lades, 1  got  a  smack  in  the  face. 

"Aren't  you  guys  supposed  to 
be  a  melting  pot  or  something?" 
he  flatly  responded.  "Seems 
like  just  a  bunch  of  segregated 
neighbourhoods  to  me." 

Mistaking  his  insightfulness  for  igno- 
rance, I  patiently  explained  that  he  was 
confusing  us  with  our  homogenizing 
neighbours  to  the  south.  Canada's  ver- 
sion of  multiculturalism,  I  explained, 
is  best  understood  by  way  of  a  mosaic 
metaphor:  each  ethnic  identity  glitter- 
ing uniquely  from  within  the  confines  of 
a  single,  harmoniously  blended  master- 
piece. He  didn't  buy  it.  And  to  tell  you 
the  truth,  neither  do  1. 

It  appears  that  the  mosaic  model  of 
multiculturalism  is  at  best  a  fairy  tale, 
and  at  worst  a  party  to  all  sorts  of  ug- 
liness, including  this  summer's  home- 
grown terrorist  plot. 

One  need  not  look  very  fcir  to  witness 
the  splintering  of  Canada's  socio-po- 
litical claim  to  fame.  From  campuses 
across  the  country  where  students 
move  about  in  ethnically  defined  pods, 
to  neighbourhoods  in  our  largest  cities 
in  which  one  would  be  hard-pressed  to 
hear  a  word  of  English  or  French,  it  is 
plain  to  see  that  what  we  thought  was  a 


Tussles  like  last  summer's  Caledonia  blockade  indicate  that 
we're  not  as  seamlessly  multicutural  as  we'd  like  to  believe. 


mosaic  is  really  more  like  a  junior  high 
schoolyard.  We  don't  have  Trudeau's 
vision  of  pluralism — ^we  have  teenage 
cliquishness. 

While  this  lack  of  integration  may  not 
be  true  of  every  neighbourhood,  it  is 
widespread  enough  to  be  observed  by 
a  newcomer.  And  the  effects  of  a  dys- 
functional multicultural  identity  can 
no  longer  be  dismissed  as  wholly  in- 
nocuous. Indeed,  the  events  in  Toronto 
and  Caledonia  this  past  summer  reveal 
the  virulent  potential  of  a  society  that 
seems  integrated  but  actually  isn't. 

While  many  observers  cited  a  lack 
of  coherence  between  Canada's  main- 
stream culture  and  the  values  of  the  mi- 
nority groups  as  a  precipitating  factor  in 
the  aforementioned  conflicts,  it  appears 
that  a  more  accurate  characterization 
of  the  culprit  hits  closer  to  home. 

For  there  to  be  a  culture  clash  at  all, 
an  identifiable,  mainstream  identity 
must  first  exist.  Perhaps  it  wasn't  inco- 
herence that  contributed  to  the  sense  of 
disconnection  felt  by  the  Muslim  terror 


suspects  or  Native  protestors, 
but  rather  a  lack  of  something  to 
connect  to  altogether. 

What  does  being  "Canadian" 
mean,  anyway?  I  have  a  very 
difficult  time  answering  that 
question  and  was  grateful  that 
my  international  friend  did  not 
respond  to  my  candy-coated 
^  explanation  with  such  a  retort. 
1  And  therein  lies  the  problem 
s  with  the  mosaic  model.  It  does 
S  not  always  follow  that  if  you  glue 
"  pieces  of  coloured  tile  to  a  can- 
vas, an  aesthetically  harmoni- 
ous image  emerges.  Sometimes 
a  bunch  of  glass  is  just  that. 
So  what  is  the  solution?  How  do  we 
go  about  constructing  a  sense  of  "Ca- 
nadian-ness,"  and  will  such  an  identity 
really  make  a  difference  when  it  comes 
to  the  political  brain-teasers  that  are 
homegrown  terrorism  and  aboriginal 
land  claim 'disputes?  Certainly,  it  would 
be  naive  to  think  that  one  could  explain 
away  such  complex  issues  by  pointing 
to  a  single  threadbare  patch  in  our  so- 
cial fabric. 

Instead,  what  the  events  of  this  sum- 
mer and  my  own  observations  warrant 
is  the  recognition  that  the  old  mosaic 
model  is  more  Peter  Pan  than  political 
reality.  Only  upon  acknowledging  this 
shortcoming  will  Canadians  from  every 
community  be  able  to  have  a  meaning- 
ful discussion  about  what  we  want  in 
our  national  identity. 

Canada  is  a  country  that  is  currently 
struggling  through  its  adolescence. 
And  while  that  can  mean  growing  out 
of  our  favorite  fables,  it  also  means 
that  our  greatest  potential  is  yet  to  be 
realized. 


The  Pulp 
Kitchen 

Amle  Watson  and  Amanda  Whittal 


Ah,  the  typical  life  of  a  student:  rushing 
from  home  to  make  it  to  class  on  time, 
grabbing  a  bag  of  chips  or  a  can  of  pop 
to  provide  that  much-needed  energy 
boost  for  the  day. 

Sound  familiar?  Well  maybe  it's  time 
to  make  some  changes!  Check  out  "The 
Pulp  Kitchen,"  a  quaint  little  restaurant 
on  Queen  Street  East,  specializing  in 
vegetarian  and  health  conscious  cui- 
sine. 

Living  on  a  budget  and  still  eating 
right  is  hard  for  most  students,  so  to 
kick  off  the  year,  here's  the  first  in  a 
series  of  healthy-eating  restaurant  re- 
views, brought  to  you  by  two  equally 
struggling  students. 

For  all  you  burger  and  fries  fans,  don't 
let  this  scare  you  away!  You  will  treat 
your  taste  buds  to  a  wonderful  new  ex- 
perience of  flavours.  After  two  visits  to 
the  restaurant,  we  can  say  that  while  it 
is  not  especially  close  to  campus,  it  is 
worth  making  the  trip  over  for  lunch  or 
breakfast. 

With  metal-frame  chairs  and  diner  ta- 
bles mixed  with  Japanese  lanterns  and 
modern  decor,  this  restaurant  is  aimed 
towards  our  generation.  The  restaurant 
shirts  on  sale  at  the  front  are  even  the 
Classic  Girl  brand  known  for  its  fair-la- 
bour costs  and  high  quality. 

Upon  entering,  we  were  greeted  with 
cheerful  smiles  and  hospitable  service. 
Our  first  visit  was  for  breakfast,  and 
what  better  way  to  start  the  day  than 
with  one  of  Pulp  Kitchen's  juice  blends? 
"Rise  Up,"  a  brew  of  garlic,  apple,  pars- 
ley, carrot,  and  celery,  was  just  the  right 
amount  of  flavour  and  punch  for  8  a.m. 

Also  on  the  menu  are  more  fruity 


mm 


juices  and  shakes  for  those  with  vege- 
table-phobia. If  you  do  want  to  try  some 
veggie  juices  but  are  a  little  scared  of 
the  breath-changing  spices,  we  recom- 
mend "Iron  Beta  Blast,"  with  carrot, 
beet,  and  ginger.  As  great  as  "Rise  Up" 
was,  be  wary  of  the  taste  combination  it 
makes  with  your  meal.  Once  breakfast 
arrived  and  the  sweet  flavours  collided 
with  the  not-so-sweet  juice,  the  bever- 
age seemed  to  lose  some  of  its  appeal! 

The  breakfast  oatmeal  was  delicious- 
ly  slow-cooked  and  heartily  topped 
with  raisins,  vanilla,  caramelized  ba- 
nanas, and  pure  maple  syrup — an  ex- 
cellent combo.  The  spelt  and  cornmeal 
blueberry  pancakes  with  fresh  fruit  and 
smooth  banana  cream  were  very  enjoy- 
able, but  they  were  a  little  bit  drier  and 
had  a  heavier  texture  than  the  norm. 

Lunch  consisted  of  a  whole  wheat 
wrap  with  hummus  and  vegetables  of 
the  day,  accompanied  by  mixed  greens 
and  baked  home  fries.  Also  sampled  was 
the  Almond  Beet  Salad,  dressed  with  an 
acidic  vinaigrette  that  combined  well 
with  the  sweetness  of  the  cranberries 
and  roasted  flavour  of  the  almonds.  All 
the  ingredients  were  noticeably  fresh 
and  of  exceptional  quality. 

For  dessert,  the  "Un-Cake"  was  an 
interesting  treat.  This  deceptively  filling 
cheesecake-like  square  has  a  bottom 
layer  made  from  coconut  and  a  topping 
of  pureed  dates  mixed  with  coconut 
cream  for  a  dairy,  egg  and  soy-free  des- 
sert. Yes,  it  sounds  like  a  disaster  but  it 
was  a  delightful  treat,  whether  you're 
vegan  or  not. 


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6   MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  25, 2006 


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1600  Steeles  Ave,  W. 
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5969  Baldwin  Street  S,  . 
(905)  620  0868 
25  Thickson  Rd  N. 
(905)  433-0701 
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Centerpoint  Mall 
(416)  512-8800 
W00D6RIDGE 
200  Whitmore  Rd. 
(905)  850-8505 

O  ROGERS^ 

ETOBICOKE 
Cloverdale  Mall 
(416) 231  5973 
Woodbine  Centre 
(416)  798-0229 

MARKHAM 
Markville  Mall 
(905)  940-6510 
NEWMARKET 
Upper  Canada  Mall 
(905)  853  1462 
NORTH  YORK 
Don  Mills  Centre 
(416)  449-6085 
OAKVILLE 
240  LeiqhIand  Ave  Unit  208B 
(905)  815-8871 

OSHAWA 
Oshawa  Centre 
(905)  571-6663 
SCARBOROUGH 
Scarborough  Town  Centre 
(416)  296-9160 
TORONTO 
The  Exchange  Tower 

(416)  603-7979 
Toronto  Eaton  Centre 
(416)  351-1522 
Yorkdale  Shopping  Ccr>tre 
(416)  783-0675 
1  Yorkdale  Rd  Unit  180 
(416)  785-6216 
Vaughan  Mills 
8960  Jane  St.  Unit  108 
(905)^60-8157 


review@thevarsity.ca 


MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  25, 2006  7 


Hart  House  High  on  Reefer 


Jordan  Bimm 

ARTS  EDITOR 


Move  over  Afroman,  wherever  you 
are.  It's  time  for  Reefer  Madness  to 
Bogart  the  pot-culture  spotlight.  The 
award-winning,  pro-cannabis  musical 
is  currently  in  the  midst  of  its  Canadi- 
an premiere  right  here  at  U  of  T's  Hart 
House  Theatre. 

At  the  helm  of  this  take-off  on  the 
hit  cult  film  is  U  of  T  alumna  Elenna 
Mosoff.  Her  fourth  production  at  Hart 
House  in  as  many  years,  Reefer  Mad- 
ness is  far  and  away  her  most  profes- 
sional and  well-executed  effort  to  date. 
Featuring  a  cast  comprised  of  music 
theatre  pros  and  U  of  T  students,  this 
musical  offers  up  a  hilarious  romp 
through  all  the  usual  pot  and  cold- 
war  era  mental  hygiene  jokes.  Despite 
the  familiar  terrain,  this  show  proved 
to  be  an  instant  hit  with  the  large  au- 
dience, thanks  to  Mosoff's  excellent 
direction,  strong  technical  elements, 
and  seemingly  flawless  performances 
from  an  outstanding  ensemble  cast. 

Maybe  there  was  something  in  the 
air  that  night,  but  in  my  four  years  re- 


viewing theatre  here  on  campus,  I've 
never  seen  any  show  at  Hart  House 
get  the  kind  of  audience  response  that 
Reefer  was  able  to  win  from  the  near- 
capacity  Friday-night  crowd.  While 
the  subject  matter  pretty  much  makes 
writing  jokes  the  literary  equivalent 
of  tee-ball,  the  comedy  was  perfectly 
timed  and  every  joke  seemed  to  land 
with  maximum  impact. 

Set  during  the  squeaky-clean 
height  of  America's  Red  Scare,  Reefer 
Madness  is  the  story  of  young  Jimmy 
Harper's  tragic  descent  into  sex,  theft, 
and  murder,  all  caused  by  a  malicious 
marijuana  pusher  and  his  band  of 
weed-addicted  groupies. 

The  action  is  introduced  and  nar- 
rated at  points  by  a  lecturer,  who's 
attempting  to  educate  the  audience 
about  the  inherent  evils  of  reefer,  as 
he  illustrates  the  drug's  uncontrol- 
lable side  effects. 

Played  by  Andrew  Moyes  (who 
wowed  audiences  as  Dr.  Frank  N.  Furt- 
er  in  Mosoff's  last  Hart  House  produc- 
tion. The  Rocky  Horror  Show)  the  lec- 
turer was  in  every  way  the  epitome  of 
the  ail-American,  bible-thumping  sub- 


THEATRE  REVIEW 


Reefer  Madness 


Directed  by 
Elenna  Mosoff 


Hart  House  Theatre 


Sept.  15-30 


Rating:  VWW 

urban  zealot.  Somewhere  in  between 
Agent  Smith  from  The  Matrix  and  a 
southern  baptist  preacher,  Moyes' 
principal  character  (he  also  hopped 
into  about  seven  different  support- 
ing roles)  was  perfect.  The  way  he 
looked,  his  manner  of  carrying  him- 
self, the  timing  of  his  actions,  and  his 
periodic  bursts  into  unbridled  fury 
were  executed  with  the  mastery  of  a 
talent  that  few  actors  possess  today. 
The  result  was  pure  hilarity,  and  was 
easily  worth  the  price  of  admission  to 
witness. 


There  was  even  a  moment,  when 
his  character  was  explaining  to  the 
audience  why  his  moral  compass 
wouldn't  allow  him  to  describe  the 
explicit  ins  and  outs  of  prison  sex, 
(which  is  caused,  of  course,  by 
smoking  pot)  that  someone  in  the 
audience,  who  obviously  wanted 
a  more  detailed  account,  shouted 
"Boo!"  While  the  whole  room  was  in 
stitches,  Moyes,  alone  in  a  spotlight, 
maintained  total  control  and  never 
once  gave  in  and  broke  character  (al- 
though the  trained  eye  could  tell  that 
it  was  a  good  fight!).  He  even  followed 
it  up  with  the  ad-lib  quip  "you  can  see 
me  about  that  after,"  which  scored  an 
even  bigger  laugh. 

Dramatic  and  technically  complex 
combined  lighting  and  music  cues 
were  nailed  every  time,  which  added 
nicely  to  the  over-the-top,  sensation- 
alist atmosphere.  The  rotating  stage 
was  also  a  smart  bit  of  practical  eye 
candy,  which  worked  seemlessly.  In 
an  improvement  over  some  of  Mo- 
soff's previous  productions,  the  cast 
turned  in  pitch-perfect  vocal  perfor- 
mances, even  though  the  songs  them- 
selves weren't  necessarily  highlights. 

Some  weak  stage  slaps,  poorly  ex- 
ecuted "gunshots"  (attempting  to  re- 
coiling a  pistol  in  time  with  a  sound 


effect  of  a  gunshot  is  nearly  impossi- 
ble and  never,  ever,  looks  convincing) 
and  a  small  mic  issue  near  the  end  of 
the  first  act  were  all  small  obstacles 
that  could  use  attention  if  this  show  is 
ever  re-mounted  (and  it  easily  could 
be).  Also,  as  talented  as  the  orches- 
tra was,  putting  them  on  stage  only 
served  to  distract  from  the  business 
of  the  actors.  It  would  be  better  just 
to  use  a  pit. 

Despite  the  entire  cast  being  the 
strongest  ensemble  I've  ever  seen  at 
Hart  House,  stand-out  performances 
were  given  by  Adam  Barrett,  who  was 
incredibly  funny  to  watch  as  Ralph 
(hats  off  for  the  baby  song),  David 
Pereira,  who  played  Jesus  in  televan- 
gelist  mode  (complete  with  moving 
crucifix  and  bloody  spear  wound) 
and  Benjamin  Mehl,  who  was  great  as 
the  ill-fated  and  transformed  Jimmy 
Harper. 

While  this  show  may  not  be  as  ce- 
rebral as  multi-layered  classics  like 
A  Chorus  Line  or  Cabaret,  it  is  an  ex- 
ample of  top-shelf  stagecraft,  and  a 
guaranteed  good  time. 

Reefer  Madness  runs  this  Wednestlay  to 
Saturday  (with  a  second  midnight  finale  on 
Saturday)  at  Hart  House  Theatre. 


Adam  Barrett  gets  dominated  by  Jennifer  Walls,  both  many  tokes  over  the  line 


The  Institute  for  Contemporary  Culture  at  the  ROM  invites  you  to  a  special  lecture; 

AA  Bronson: 

The  Works  of  General  idea  1969-1994 

Join  AA  Bronson,  the  only  surviving  member  of  General  Idea,  as  he  discusses  the 
work  of  this  infamous  Toronto-based  arts  trio.  He  v/ill  focus  on  v/ork  produced  between 
1 987  and  1 994  on  the  theme  of  AIDS  and  will  introduce  some  of  his  own  solo  work. 


Thursday,  September  28,  2006  at  7  PM 

Signy  and  Cleophee  Eaton  Theatre.  Free  with  ROM  admission. 


AIDS,  a  sculpture  by  General  Idea,  can  be  viewed  at  the  corner  of  Bloor  St.  W.  and  Queen's  Park. 


JF^S^99^  Royal  Ontario 
II4L*Jliil  Museum 

Workd  Cullurei   |  Nolurol  History 


Open  Daily 

Bloor  St.  W.  at  Avenue  Rd. 

Museum  subway  slop  I  416.586.8000 

www.rom.on.ca/about/icc 


ROM  foil  2006  Spon»r:  Sentry  Select  Cap'rtol  Corp. 
The  ROM  it  on  ogency  ot  ttie  Govemntent  ol  Ortorio- 


8   MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  25, 2006 


VARSITY  ARTS  &  ENTERTAINMENT 


review@thevarsity.ca 


ZODIAC  STARS  ^ 

ARIES  (March  21  -  April  20) 

Your  situation  is  not  unusual.  You 
currently  fee!  you  have  not  lived 
up  to  your  potential  but  others 
see  your  more  relaxed  style  as 
a  positive  change.  Have  a  break. 
Have  a  Kit  Kat. 


TAURUS  (April  21  -  May  20) 

You  have  to  make  a  difficult  decision. 
Now  is  the  time  to  tell  someone 
that  the  journey  is  over.  Do  not  put 
this  off,  as  you'll  be  surprised  by 
the  outcome.  Have  a  break.  Have 
a  Kit  Kat. 


GEMINI  (May  21  -  June  21) 

You  need  to  listen  lo  your  heart. 
Life  is  not  all  textbook.  It's  about 
chances  and  possibility  and  not 
only  how  well  you  play  your  hand. 
Have  a  break.  Have  a  Kit  Kat. 

CANCER  (June  22  -  July  22) 

The  current  situation  is  temporary. 
You  have  good  reason  to  feel  upset 
by  someone's  seeming  oversight. 
Stay  positive  and  upbeat  around 
this  individual.  There  will  be  a 
change  in  your  favour.  Have  a 
break-  Have  a  Kit  Kat. 


im  (July  23  -  Aug.  22) 

The  summer  is  over  and  you  feel 
unseasonably  low.  Now  is  the  time 
to  start  a  plan,  to  look  ahead  to  an 
early  start  to  summer  2007.  Have  a 
break.  Have  a  Kit  Kat. 


VIRGO  (Aug.  23  -  Sept.  22) 

Congratulations,  you  lead  by 
example.  Your  conmiitment  to  work 
and  to  making  those  around  you 
feel  positive  leads  to  a  productive 
and  hugely  enjoyable  work  place. 
Have  a  break.  Have  a  Kit  Kat. 


UBRA  CSept.  23  -  Oct.  23) 

With  the  year-end  in  sight  you  may 
be  tempted  to  clear  out  the  closets 
and  finally  get  your  house  in  order 
Be  careful.  In  your  rush  for  clean  you 
may  throw  out  some  things  which 
arc  of  sentimental  value  lo  others. 
Have  a  break.  Have  a  Kit  Kat. 


SCORPIO  (Oct.  24  -  Nov.  22) 

In  social  settings,  loose  lips  can 
lead  to  a  stormy  feiil  out.  You  have 
bcQn  entrusted  with  a  friend's 
secret  and  it  is  not  yours  to 
tell.  Stay  on  your  guard  around 
others  who  are  pushing  for  inside 
information.  I  lave  a  break.  1  lave  a 
Kit  Kat. 


SAGITTARIUS  O^ov.  23  -  Dec.  21) 

You  have  a  tendency  to  worry 
about  how  things  will  go  wrong 
versus  feeling  positive  that  all 
the  logistics  are  in  place  for  a 
successful  outcome.  This  week  trust 
your  prepcu'ations  will  pay  off  and 
enjoy  the  results.  Have  a  break. 
Have  a  Kit  Kat. 


CAPRICORN  (Dec.  22  -  Jan.  20) 
You  are  beginning  to  tire  of  a 
friend's  seeming  inconsistencies. 
You  are  afraid  if  you  speak  your 
mind  it  will  hurt  their  feelings.  But 
if  you  continue  to  harbour  negative 
thoughts  the  long-term  fall  out  will 
be  much  greater.  Have  a  break. 
Have  a  Kit  Kat. 


AQUARIUS  (Jan.  21  -  Feb.l9) 

Recent  world  events  have  cau.sed 
you  to  question  your  year-end 
plans.  You  need  to  get  perspective 
and  weigh  the  balance.  Some 
things  you  can  change  but  others 
are  beyond  your  control.  Have  a 
break.  Have  a  Kit  Kat. 

PISCES  (Feb.  20  -  March  20) 

You  have  been  living  lo  excess  this 
summer.  Although  you  have  talked 
at)out  curbing  your  expenses  you 
have  done  nothing  about  it.  But  a 
big  trip  is  on  the  horizon  so  you 
had  better  make  good  on  your 
intentions.  Have  a  break.  Have  a 
Kit  Kat. 


Oscar  politics 

Sean  Penn  struggles  in  this  obvious  grab  at  a  golden  statuette 


Radheyan  Simonpillai 

FILM  CRITIC 


Audiences  won't  be  hard-pressed 
to  see  what  studio  executives  had  in 
mind  when  signing  up  the  cast  and 
crew  of  All  The  King's  Men.  First  off,  it's 
a  remake  of  an  Academy  Award-win- 
ning film,  and  written  and  directed  by 
an  Academy  Award-winning  screen- 
writer, Steve  Zaillian.  It  stars  two 
Academy  Award  winning  actors,  Sean 
Penn  and  Anthony  Hopkins,  as  well 
as  three  nominees,  Jude  Law,  Kate 
Winslet,  and  Patricia  Clarkson.  Even 
composer  James  Horner  and  cinema- 
tographer  Pawel  Edelman  have  golden 
statuettes  sitting  at  home.  So  many 
people  involved  in  the  making  of  All 
the  King's  Men  have  won  Oscars  that  it 
might  actually  be  quicker  to  list  all  the 
people  who  haven't  won  one.  Obvious- 
ly, these  studio  execs  must  have  their 
hearts  set  on  winning  an  Independent 
Spirit  Award,  or  a  Golden  Globe. 
In  fact,  they  seem  so  set  on  haul- 


FILM  REVIEW 


All  the  King's  Men 


Directed  by 
Steve  Zaillian 


Starring  Sean  Penn, 
Anthony  Hopkins,  Jude 
Law,  &  Kate  Winslet 


ing  home  an  Oscar  that  when  a  two- 
month  editing  delay  pushed  the  film 
out  of  the  2005  award  seasons  (it  was 
originally  slated  for  release  last  De- 
cember), the  studio  opted  to  shelve  it 
for  nearly  a  year,  just  so  that  the  film 
would  be  in  a  prime  position  for  the 


mm 


ALL 


WWW.THECATQMEISM 


Med  Oct  4 

Quebec  City 

Fri  Oct  20 

Theatre  Imperial 

Edmonton 

The  Starlite  Room 

Thurs  Oct  5 

Montreal 

Sat  Oct  21 

Metropolis 

Calgary 

MacEwan  Hall  Ballroom 

Fri  Oct  6 

Ottawa 

Sun  Oct  22 

Barrymore's  Music  Hall 

Banff 

Wild  Bill's 

Sat  Oct  7 

Toronto 

Tues  Oct  24 

Phoenix  Concert  Theatre 

Whistler 

Early  Show 

Garibaldi  Lift  Company 

Wetf  Oct  18 

Wed  Oct  25 

Winnipeg 

Victoria 

Pyramid  Cabaret 

Sugar  Nightclub 

Thurs  Oct  19 

Thurs  Oct  26 

Saskatoon 

Vancouver 

Louis'  Pub 

The  Commodore  Ballroom 

Save  $  flying  home  for 
the  holidays 


Incredible  Student  Airfares 

Toronto  to  Vancouver 

Travel  starting  Dec  16/06 
Our  price:        ^189*  each  way 

Their  price:    ^328*  each  way 
BOOK  TODAY!  SPACE  IS  LIMITED. 

Total  Travel  CUTS  HQ  rtn  fare  (taxes  &  surcharges  included)  $491.14,  theirs  $775.00. 
Traval  CUTS  rate  is  for  full  time  students  possessing  a  valid  registered  ISIC  at  time  of  purchase.  Prices  are 
valid  on  new  bookings  only  and  are  subject  to  change  without  notice.  All  fares  are  non  refundable. 
More  Information  is  available  from  your  Travel  CUTS  agent.  TICO  #1324998  ^l^yyjS 


187  College  St.  (416)  979-2406 

UTSC  Student  Centre  Suite  149 
(416)  283-0009 

UTM  Student  Centre,  East  Wing 
(905)  820-1162 


niRAVELCUrS 

Canada's  Student  Travel  Experts 

www.travelcuts.com 

1-888-FLY-CUTS  (359-2887) ; 


coming  competition. 

Overlooked  amongst  these  grossly 
over-calculatecl  plans  was  the  fact  that 
hiring  a  crew  that  seems  lifted  from  a 
red  carpet  guestlist  would  guarentee 
that  competing  talents  would  over- 
shadow the  substance  and  integrity 
of  what  could  have  otherwise  been  a 
strong  film. 

Between  the  elite  Hollywood  cast 
clamouring  over  each  other  for  screen 
time,  Steve  Zallian's  excessively  meta- 
phorical, yet  banal  screenplay,  and 
James  Horner's  ego-tripping  score,  it 
becomes  obvious  that  at  some  point 
this  film  degenerated  into  one  big  "For 
Your  Consideration"  ad,  which  leaving 
behind  any  aspirations  of  solid  film- 
making. 

The  film  features  Sean  Penn  as  Wil- 


Rating:  WW¥ 


lie  Stark,  a  fictionalization  of  the  radi- 
cal, Robin  Hood-inspired  Louisiana 
Governor  Huey  P.  Long,  a  democrat, 
who  grappled  for  dictatorial  control 
over  social  reforms  and  the  redistribu- 
tion of  wealth  within  his  state.  A  man 
of  the  people  at  the  outset.  Stark  soon 
betrays  his  own  ideals  for  the  sake  of 
achieving  ends  that  will  hopefully  jus- 
tify his  drastic  means. 

The  film  is  convoluted  by  multiple 
sub-plots,  which  could  have  worked' 
had  this  film  been  a  three  hour  epic. 
Instead,  the  all-star  supporting  cast  is 
reduced  to  making  feeble  attempts  at 
developing  their  characters,  with  only 
table  scraps  of  screen  time  to  work 
with. 

All  The  King's  Men  could  have  been 
a  stirring  political  drama  about  greed 
and  ambition  gone  awry.  Instead  the 
film  itself  suffers  from  these  very 
same  maladies.  Good  thing  everyone 
involved  already  has  an  Oscar. 


Attention  aspiring  arts  writers!  The  varsity  \s  holding  its  first  Arts 
section  meeting  this  Thursday,  September  28  @  6:30  p.m.  The  meeting 
is  open  to  everyone  with  a  pulse  and  the  will  to  write,  and  will  take  place 
in  The  Varsit^s  main  office  on  the  2nd  floor  of  21  Sussex  Ave.  An  arm 

wrestling  competition  will  decide  who  gets  to  review  the  new  Chingy  CD. 


Graduate  and 
Professional  Schools  Fair 

Over  65  program  representatives 
from  schools  across  North  America 
talk  about  admissions  requirement, 
application  proceciures,  and  deadlines. 
Programs  of  study  include: 

•  medicine  •  dentistry 

•  pharmacy  •  education 

•  graduate  school        •  college 

•  business  •  law 

Thursday,  October  5,  2006 
10:30  a.m.-2:30  p.m. 

Career  Centre  and  Bahen  Centre  lobby 
214  College  St.  (St.  George  Campus) 


Career  Centre 

A  tfiviiiM  (rf  StwJsnt  itrtKts  •  Utifvenity  ol  Torenio 


www.careers.utoronto.ca 


The  Varsity 


mm.  rm 


HART  I 
HOUSE 


Music  by  Dan  Studney  -  Lyrics  by  Kevin  Murphy 
took  by  Kevin  Murphy  a  Dan  Studney 
Directed  by  Elenna  Mosoff 

SEPT  15  -  30. 2006 


WWW.HARTHOUSETHEATRE.CA 

1^  Meioche  IVlo»»ex  f/;gVARSITY  BOX  O  F  F  I  C  Ei 


NOW  ^"U.,,...  ® 


Ik 


*uGnriN6  Store  <2 


Mercer  Oliver  V/yman  provides 
rapid  growth  in  responsibility  in  a 
challenging  learning  environment 

for  career-minded  individuals  while 
maintaining  a  balanced  lifestyle 

and  sense  of  fun. 


Fall  recruiting  dates 

September  25 

35  St  George,  Room  GB202 
3:00-4:00  PM 


September  28 

Resume  drop  deadline 


October  12 

On-campus  interviews 


MERCER  OLIVER  WYMAN 

A  leader  in  financial  services  strategy  and  risk  management  consulting 

•*^:J    High-caliber  strategic  work 

Internationdl  consulting  experience 
^^MA    a  future  filled  with  opportunities 


Direct  ali  correspondence  and  inquiries  to: 

Ciiristian  Schaub,  NA  Campus  Recruiting 
Mercer  Oliver  Wyman 

99  Park  Avenue,  New  York,  New  York  10016 
Tel  (212)  541-8100  Fax  (212)  541-8957 
campusrecruiting@mow.com 

www,MercerOliverWyman.com 


<ton   Frankfurt  tstanbut   London   Madrid   Milan   Munich   New  Vorfc   Paris  Seoul   Stockiiolm   Snr-rigtuji   Singripore   Sydney   Toronto  Zurich 


10  MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  25, 2006  Wm  mlm%#l  I     I  science@thevarsity.ca 


//SCIENCE  IN  BRIEF 


When  silence  says  more 

Male  crickets  on  the  Hawaiian  island 
of  Kauai  have  drastically  changed 
the  way  they  attract  females — for 
the  better.  In  less  than  twenty  gen- 
erations, male  crickets  have  evolved 
what  seems  like  a  detrimental  muta- 
tion, the  inability  to  produce  a  mating 
song  to  draw  females.  Researchers 
suggest  the  mutation  allows  crickets 
to  hide  from  a  parasitic  fly  that  selec- 
tively kills  male  crickets.  After  locat- 
ing males  with  their  mating  song,  the 
fly  deposits  larvae,  which  burrow  into 
the  cricket,  grow,  and  kill  the  cricket 
when  flies  emerge  from  the  cricket's 
body.  Crickets  with  'flat  wings,'  wings 
that  cannot  generate  sound,  use  their 
silence  to  hide  from  the  fly  and  in- 
crease their  chances  of  survival — all 
without  losing  mates.  Instead,  'flat 
wing'  crickets  become  capitalistic — if 
not  parasitic.  They  flock  to  'callers,' 
the  few  normal  male  crickets  left  on 
the  island,  and  mate  with  females  that 
have  been  drawn  to  the  normal  males' 
mating  song.  Researchers  are  excited 
to  see  evolution  happening  on  such  a 
short  time  scale. 

Source:  UC Riverside  news  service 
— SANDY HUEN 

A  watery  plethora 

In  a  recent  study  on  three  flooded 
homes  in  New  Orlecins,  mold  and 
bacterial  growth  have  elevated  to 
dangerous  levels  even  after  Katrina's 
floodwaters  flowed  away.  The  levels  of 
toxins  created  by  mold  and  bacteria  in 
the  houses  were  equal  or  higher  than 
levels  typically  found  in  waste-water 
treatment  plants,  leading  scientists 
to  warn  anyone  entering  a  flood-dam- 
aged home  to  wear  protective  respira- 
tors. The  data  and  recommendations 
made  by  the  study  will  inform  the 
procedures  in  the  clean-up  of  New  Or- 
leans and  other  future  disasters. 
Source:  Mailman  School  of  Public 
Health  news  service 
— S.H. 

Fly  with  fibre,  fall  with  fat 

A  new  study  found  that  the  colon  dis- 
ease, diverticulitis,  typically  found  in 
patients  older  than  50  a  decade  ago, 
is  affecting  people  under  50  today.  Pa- 
tients under  50  who  have  the  disease 
are  also  more  often  obese  than  not. 
The  most  common  cause  of  diverticu- 
litis is  a  low  fiber  diet.  When  muscles 
that  are  responsible  for  bowel  move- 
ments become  strained,  pressure  in 
the  colon  can  increase.  This  can  cause 
weak  spots  in  the  colon  to  bulge  and 
form  diverticula,  numerous  protrud- 
ing pouches  on  the  bowel  wall.  If  bac- 
teria infect  the  diverticula,  they  not 
only  cause  an  inflammatory  response, 
but  can  perforate  the  wall  of  the  intes- 
tine, leading  to  other  serious  compli- 
cations. Researchers  warn  that  after 
twenty  years  of  age,  obese  adults  are 
at  a  serious  risk  for  more  outbreaks 
of  inflammation  if  they  have  the  un- 
derlying condition  of  diverticulitis. 
Researchers  recommend  that  physi- 
cians add  diverticulitis  to  the  list  of 
diseases  that  may  affect  young  people 
with  severe  abdominal  pain — espe- 
cially in  cases  of  obesity. 
Source:  American  Journal  of 
Roentgenology 
— S.H. 


A  Tuntain'  of  sound 


Sandy  Huen 


On  the  sunny  morning  of  September 
20,  a  gathering  of  children  and  grown- 
ups wandered  across  the  Ontario  Sci- 
ence Centre's  (OSC)  front  lawn  for  the 
first  time.  The  main  attraction  that 
brought  them  to  the  football-field 
sized  space  was  the  new  exhibition- 
cum-playground  called  'Teluscape' 
and  its  centrepiece,  the  'Funtain.' 

"Teluscape'  gives  visitors  a  new 
way  to  participate  in  science  by  ex- 
ploring the  space  around  them,"  said 
Lesley  Lewis,  CEO  of  the  Ontario  Sci- 
ence Centre.  At  its  heart  is  'Funtain,' 
a  water  organ  created  by  the  father 
of  wearable  computing  and  a  U  of  T 
professor,  Steve  Mann. 

The  'Funtain'  structure  reigns  over 
'Teluscape'.  A  low  airy  hum  surrounds 
the  area,  where  twenty-four  steel  cyl- 
inders installed  in  bases  of  concrete 
sit  on  the  top  of  a  hill  at  the  entrance 
of  the  OSC.  Like  a  woodwind  instru- 
ment— a  clarinet,  for  example — the 
'Funtain'  is  a  'waterwind'  that  uses  a 
system  of  hydraulics  to  push  water 
through  quarter-inch  holes  in  the 
steel  'keyboard.'  The  obstruction  of 
these  holes  with  your  hands  or  fin- 
gers produces  a  steady,  organ-like 
tone. 

"The  original  inspiration  was 
squeaky  faucets,"  said  Mann.  "It'd  be 
easy  to  make  a  bunch  of  defective 
taps  into  a  musical  instrument.  It  was 
too  hard  to  play  though,  because  it 
would  hurt  your  fingers  pushing  that 
hard  on  water.  So  I  started  playing 
around  with  some  form  of  hydraulic 
assist,  to  make  it  light  and  easy  to  the 
touch." 

'Funtain'  is  adapted  so  that  vibra- 
tos, semi-tones,  and  chords  can  be 
played  over  the  holes,  miming  the 
flexibility  of  expression  a  traditional 
instrument  would  offer.  In  total,  the 
organ  covers  a  range  of  more  than 
three  octaves.  In  the  winter,  the  struc- 
ture can  be  played  with  air  instead  of 


Putting  aside  his  wearable  computers — and  his  shoes — Professor  Steve  Mann  (left)  plays  a  sonorous  tune  on  the  bass  'keyboard' 
of  Ontario  Science  Centre's  towering  new  water  organ  (right),  the  'Funtain.' 


water  for  similar  results. 

"[We]  had  to  overcome  a  lot  of 
problems  in  design. ..in  order  to  make 
this  durable  in  an  outdoor  location, 
in  the  weather  and  everything,"  said 
Mann.  "It  plays  year-round." 

When  not  being  played,  the  struc- 
ture is  certainly  being  played  on.  The 
simplicity  of  its  design,  with  or  with- 
out water,  and  its  towering  size  made 
the  sound  sculpture  an  instant  jungle 
gym  for  children. 


"[We]  have  been  working  on  this 
for  about  a  year  now,  but  the  original 
idea,  I've  been  working  on  it  on  and 
off  for  about  20  years,"  said  Mann. 
"More  recently...!  had  a  baby  daugh- 
ter and  that  got  my  interest  back  into 
fountains  again." 

The  first  water  instrument  Mann 
created  was  a  "Nessie"  of  21  inches  in 
diameter,  a  tight  circle.  Now,  "Posei- 
dophones"  of  larger  and  various 
sizes  are  on  their  way  to  the  market 


for  bathtub  or  swimming  pool  use  at 
home. 

"You  can  see  smiles  on  people's 
faces,  kids  being  so  delighted  with 
what  they  can  do  with  water,"  said 
Chris  Aimone,  a  U  of  T  graduate  stu- 
dent in  computer  engineering  and  an 
integral  part  of  Mann's  effort  in  creat- 
ing the  water  organ.  "['Funtain']  had 
so  much  pull  that  the  two  of  us  just 
dove  right  into  it.  For  our  first  venue, 
this  is  fantastic." 


Cracking  a  million-dollar  mountain 


Bob  Tian 


One  of  the  most  perplexing  but  re- 
warding questions  in  the  field  of 
computer  science  is  a  question  that 
is  relevant  in  almost  every  aspect  of 
life,  from  code-cracking  to  quantum 
mechanics. 

The  concepts  of  time,  space,  and 
complexity  in  the  world  of  a  com- 
puter scientist  come  together  in  a 
single  million-dollar  problem:  what  is 
the  relationship  between  complexity 
classes  P  and  NP? 

The  person  responsible  for  this  co- 
nundrum is  Professor  Stephen  Cook, 
a  prominent  figure  in  the  field  of 
computer  science  since  his  infamous 
1971  paper  entitled  "The  Complex- 
ity of  Theorem  Proving  Procedures," 
where  he  had  productively  articulat- 
ed the  problem,  but  left  it  unsolved. 
His  work  since  then  has  recently 
earned  him  the  prestigious  John  L. 
Synge  Award  from  the  Royal  Society 
of  Canada. 

But  what  is  this  problem?  In  theo- 
retical computer  science,  problems 
need  resources  in  order  to  be  solved, 
meaning  tradeoffs  often  have  to  be 
made.  In  this  case,  the  two  resources 


are  time,  or  how  many  steps  it  takes 
to  solve  the  problem,  and  space,  or 
how  much  memory  it  takes  to  solve 
the  problem.  The  two  classes,  P  and 
NP,  designate  all  problems  that  fall 
under  certain  parametres  of  time 
and  space,  P  for  simple  problems  and 
NP  for  complex  ones. 

Consider  a  traveling  salesman  who 
needs  to  visit  several  cities  of  a  given 
distance  in  separation,  but  is  only  al- 
lowed to  travel  a  set  total  distance. 
Though  it  may  be  possible,  find- 
ing the  answer  involves  calculating 
countless  permutations.  If  the  num- 
ber of  cities  were  too  high,  this  task 
becomes  an  NP  problem,  like  many 
other  analogous  problems  in  this 
field,  and  would  be  practically  unfea- 
sible with  the  computer  technology 
available  today. 

The  famous  'traveling  salesman 
problem'  is  one  of  the  many  exam- 
ples of  an  NP  problem  that  could  be 
solved  if  put  into  a  simpler  frame- 
work, like  the  algorithms  that  solve  P 
problems.  If  the  NP  and  P  classes  are 
in  fact  the  same,  then  increasingly 
complex  problems  can  be  solved 
with  approaches  used  on  much  sim- 
pler problems.  Similar  NP  problems 


Professor  Stephen  Cool(,  the  second  of 
The  Varsity's  series  of  faculty  profiles, 
is  the  recipient  of  the  John  L.  Synge 
Award  for  his  contributions  to  the  field  of 
mathematical  and  computer  sciences. 

in  cryptography,  biochemistry,  and 
quantum  theory  will  be  efficiently 
solvable,  meaning  better  computer 
systems  like  code-cracking  software 
and  more  accurate  biological  predic- 
tion models. 


The  importance  of  this  problem  has 
prompted  the  Clay  Mathematics  Insti- 
tute, a  private  foundation  dedicated 
to  the  proliferation  of  mathematical 
knowledge,  to  offer  a  million-dollar 
prize  to  anyone  who  can  solve  this 
puzzle. 

In  search  of  a  proof,  Cook's  work  has 
rendered  several  NP  problems  solv- 
able through  a  P  problem  approach, 
breakthroughs  that  have  brought 
mathematicians  closer  to  a  general 
proof  that  NP  and  P  classes  are  the 
same.  Because  of  the  insurmountable 
nature  of  the  problem,  attacking  the 
problem  from  a  different  angle  or  at- 
tempting a  shortcut  can  lead  to  a  solu- 
tion, and  Cook's  creative  approaches 
have  been  inspirational  to  the  field. 

The  applications  of  Cook's  momen- 
tous research  have  reached  the  far 
realms  of  programming,  algebra,  and 
games  and  puzzles.  Its  influence  con- 
tinues to  spread  as  the  field  of  math- 
ematics and  computer  science  contin- 
ues to  expand.  At  the  moment.  Cook  is 
taking  on  several  endeavors  including 
the  P  and  NP  question  as  well  as  au- 
thoring a  book.  Foundations  of  Proof 
Complexity,  with  one  of  his  graduate 
students,  Phuong  Nguyen. 


sports@thevarsity.ca 


VARSITY  SPORTS 


MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  25, 2006  11 


Babe's  homer  at  Hanlan's 


J.  p.  Antonacci 

VARSITY  STAFF 


Long  before  the  exploits  of  Joe  Carter 
and  Boomer  Wells,  another  larger- 
than-life  personality  made  baseball 
history  on  the  shores  of  Toronto  Is- 
land. 

On  September  5,  1914,  a  young 
"Southside  phenom"  named  Babe 
Ruth  tossed  a  complete  game  one-hit- 
ter, leading  his  Providence  Grays  to  a 
9-0  win  over  the  Toronto  Maple  Leafs 
of  the  International  League.  Despite 
his  pitching  performance,  it  was  19- 
year-old  George  Herman's  hitting  that 
is  remembered  today — for  the  Babe 
swatted  the  first  professional  home 
run  of  his  storied  career  right  here  in 
Toronto. 

Last  Tuesday,  September  19,  base- 
ball fans  took  the  ferry  to  Hanlan's 
Point  along  with  Blue  Jays  VP  Paul 
Godfrey,  city  councillor  Pam  Mc- 
Connell,  and  representatives  from 
the  New  York  Yankees  to  unveil  two 
Heritage  Toronto  plaques  honouring 
Ruth's  achievement.  Godfrey,  whose 
Blue  Jays  were  a  main  sponsor  of  the 
event,  noted  that  recognizing  Ruth's 
feat  was  "important  not  only  for  the 
history  of  Toronto,  but  for  the  history 
of  baseball." 

Tom  Stevens,  the  Babe's  grandson, 
was  on  hand  to  thank  the  city  for  rec- 
ognizing his  grandfather's  achieve- 
ments. Stevens  also  paid  tribute  to 
the  Blue  Jays'  back-to-back  World  Se- 
ries wins,  saying  to  applause,  "1  know 
if  the  Babe  were  here,  he'd  join  me  in 
saying,  'Toronto,  you've  done  base- 
ball proud.'" 

Stevens  revealed  that  Ruth's  con- 
nection with  Canada  goes  beyond 
the  fabled  home  run.  When  the  young 


Tom  Stevens,  Babe  Ruth's  grandson,  unveils  two  plaques  commemorating  his  grandfather's  first  professional  home-run,  which  was  hit  at  Maple  Leaf  Park. 


Ruth  attended  St.  Mary's  Industrial 
School  in  Baltimore,  he  modeled 
his  classic  uppercut  swing  after  the 
school's  Cape  Breton-born  prefect. 
Brother  Matthias,  who  was  the  first 
person  to  put  a  bat  in  the  Babe's 
hands. 

The  plaques  will  be  on  permanent 
display  on  the  site  of  the  old  1§,000- 
seat  ballpark,  which  was  home  to  the 


Maple  Leafs  until  1925,  when  the  club 
moved  to  the  mainland  to  accommo- 
date larger  crowds.  The  stadium  was 
later  torn  down  to  make  way  for  the 
island  airport,  but  during  the  team's 
heyday  one  ticket  paid  for  the  ferry 
and  the  game,  while  families  could 
visit  the  amusement  park  on  the  is- 
land as  well. 
The  three-run  homer,  hit  off  a  Ma- 


ple Leafs  pitcher  named  Ellis  John- 
son, was  The  Bambino's  only  one  in 
the  minor  leagues.  Not  long  after  that 
game  Ruth  was  called  up  to  the  Bos- 
ton parent  club,  where  he  hit  his  first 
of  714  career  round-trippers. 

In  an  age  where  home  run  balls 
fetch  quite  a  bit  on  the  auction  block, 
the  ball  that  Ruth  hit  out  would  of 
course  be  worth  hundreds  of  thou- 


sands today,  if  not  more.  But  we'll  nev- 
er know,  since  by  most  accounts  the 
shot  cleared  the  short  perch  in  right 
field  and  ended  up  in  Lake  Ontario, 
where  it  still  rests  with  many  other 
mementos  from  Maple  Leaf  Park. 

After  the  ceremony,  attendees 
swapped  baseball  stories  and  downed 
hot  dogs  and  sodas — just  how  the 
Babe  would  have  liked  it. 


//BLUES  NEWS' 


Tennis  keeps  eyes 
on  the  prize 

Aiming  to  improve  after  last  year's 
medal-less  finish.  Men's  Tennis 
has  its  eyes  on  this  year's  Ontario 
University  Athletic  League  Cham- 
pionship, last  claimed  by  U  of  T  in 
2002. 

With  the  graduation  of  veterans 
such  as  Andrew  Anderson,  Jeff 
Dawson,  Ben  Eisen,  and  Bobby 
Gheorghiu,  last  year's  top  player, 
Stan  Sczcpanski,  will  try  to  lead 
the  Blues  to  their  32nd  OUA  title. 

Sczcpanski,  who  came  on  in  sin- 
gles and  doubles  play  during  last 
year's  playoffs,  is  believed  to  be 
one  of  the  best  players  in  the  OUA 
by  head  coach  Nabil  Tadros.  Tad- 
ros's  other  notable  player  picks 
include  Aamer  Javed,  Mark  Renne- 
son,  and  Rowan  Thompson.  With 
such  a  strong  top  four,  Tadros  has 
high  expectations  for  the  Blues. 

"The  team's  goals  are  to  make 
the  playoffs  and  aim  for  a  medal," 
Tadros  said.  "Stan,  Mark,  Rowan 
and  Aamer  are  all  top-notch  play- 
ers, and  with  the  addition  of  two 
more  solid  players  the  team  could 
definitely  achieve  this  feat." 

Renneson  returns  to  captain  the 
Blues  in  his  fifth  year,  a  position  he 
has  held  for  the  last  three  years.  In 
addition  to  being  the  senior  mem- 
ber on  the  team  and  a  gifted  play- 


er, Mark  is  also  an  Athletic  Board 
Representative  and  was  awarded 
the  T-Holder  Academic  Excellence 
Award  in  2006. 

Newcomer  Javed  is  a  strong  play- 
er with  a  hard  forehand.  Tadros 
believes  his  potential  will  make  for 
a  great  rookie  season  as  the  num- 
ber-four seed  on  the  team.  Kevin 
Chow,  Mike  Klassen,  and  rookie 
Ajit  Johal  will  probably  alternate 
as  the  fifth-and  sixth-ranked  play- 
ers for  the  Blues.  The  team  also 
has  a  couple  of  doubles  specialists 
in  returning  player  Andrew  Gilm- 
our,  as  well  as  newcomer  Martin 
Putyra,  who  played  in  the  U.S.  in 
the  past.  Both  will  be  integral  as- 
sets to  the  team's  overall  success 
this  year. 

Despite  a  short  preseason,  Tad- 
ros had  the  opportunity  to  wit- 
ness the  team's  potential  in  last 
weekend's  exhibition  tournament 
at  York,  which  hosted  players  from 
Brock,  McMaster,  U  of  T,  and  York 
University.  The  tournament's  final 
match-up  consisted  of  an  exciting 
clash  between  the  two  Blues  Ren- 
neson and  Sczcpanski,  with  Sczc- 
panski defeating  Renneson  (6-3, 
6-4)  to  capture  the  gold. 

While  last  year's  team  finished 
with  no  medals,  the  Blues  might 
have  the  opportunity  not  only  to 
make  it  to  this  year's  OUA  finals, 
but  to  run  away  with  the  OUA  title 
as  well. 

"This  season,  the  team  is  a  bit 


stronger  with  Mark,  Stan  and 
Rowan  having  another  year  under 
their  belt,  and  they  will  definitely 
be  leaders,"  Tadros  said.  "These 
players  and  the  eventual  develop- 
ment of  other  incoming  players  to 
the  team  will  take  the  team  into  the 
spotlight  over  the  next  few  years." 

Last  year,  U  of  T  finished  with  a 
2-4  record,  which  was  just  enough 
to  enter  the  playoffs  as  the  fourth 
seeded  team.  However,  eventual 
OUA  champions  York  defeated 
the  Blues  6-1  in  the  semi-finals. 
In  the  bronze  medal  match,  U  of 
T's  strong  performance  was  not 
enough,  as  Waterloo  came  from 
behind  to  claim  a  4-3  victory. 

Although  Tadros  was  disappoint- 
ed with  the  loss  in  last  year's  play- 
offs, he  is  excited  to  come  back, 
knowing  the  work  that  goes  into 
training  varsity  teams.  Nadros  is 
a  former  Blues  athlete,  who  played 
on  the  tennis  and  basketball  team 
from  1977-1981. 
—GLEN  FERNANDES 


Overwind  and  rain, 
cross  country 
delivers 

After  slogging  through  two  meets 
this  season.  Cross  Country  head 
coach  Ross  Ristuccia  believes  U  of  T 
will  perform  well  at  the  Ontario  Uni- 
versity and  Canadian  Interuniversity 
championships. 

While  the  two  tournaments  are 
weeks  away,  Ristuccia  maintains  the 
team's  overall  training  will  pay  divi- 
dends when  it  matters. 

"We're  training  fairly  hard,"  Ris- 
tuccia said.  "We're  measuring  times 
knowing  that  while  some  runners  may 
get  tired  early,  it  will  leave  our  runners 
aiming  to  run  well  later  in  the  season. 

"The  athletes  have  set  high  goals 
for  themselves,  and  both  the  men's 
and  women's  teams  are  strong.  We 
train  through  crappy  weather.  Mud, 
rain,  wind-these  are  elements  we'll 
meet  on  any  course,  and  that's  why 
we  train." 

Ristuccia  believes  a  time  of  33 
minutes  over  a  10-kilometre  course 
is  a  general  touchstone  for  the  men. 
For  the  women,  he  expects  around 
a  19-minute  time  for  a  five-kilometre 
course. 

A  measuring  stick  for  the  Blues  will 
be  the  Queen's  Invitational  on  October 
14.  Some  of  the  Blues'  more  accom- 
plished runners  have  set  aside  certain 


dates  to  compete  at  larger  internation- 
al meets,  such  as  next  week's  course 
run  at  Notre  Dame  University  in  South 
Bend,  Indiana.  The  Queen's  Invitation- 
al will  be  far  enough  into  the  season  to 
expect  a  full  team,  Ristuccia  said. 

One  of  the  runners  who  will  be 
competing  at  South  Bend  will  be  Me- 
gan Brown.  A  strong  runner  for  the 
women's  side,  she  heads  a  team  that 
finished  second  in  last  year's  CSI 
championship.  Other  strong  runners 
for  the  Blues  include  Jane  Cullis  and 
all-star  Donna  Vakalis. 

On  the  men's  side,  all-star  Joe 
Campanelli  returns  to  lead  a  veteran 
squad,  along  with  Spencer  Morrison 
and  Etienne  Bredin.  While  last  year 
the  men  finished  ninth  in  the  CIS,  Ris- 
tuccia believes  the  returning  veteran 
core  along  with  some  talented  new 
faces  will  make  for  a  better  standing. 

A  Blue  to  keep  an  eye  on  is  Collin 
Murray-Lawson,  a  rookie  to  the  team, 
who  finished  21st  in  a  field  of  150  at 
34:54  at  the  Western  Invitational  in 
London  yesterday.  Ristuccia  said  he 
had  high  hopes  for  the  novice  runner. 

"He  handled  the  difficult  course 
well  for  someone  so  inexperienced," 
Ristuccia  said. 

Other  notable  finishers  at  the  West- 
ern Invitational  for  the  men  include 
Campanelli,  who  finished  fifth  at 
33:28. 

For  the  women,  Cullis  led  the 
Blues  finishing  seventh  at  18:55,  and 
Vakalis  17th  at  19:35. 
— CHRISTOPHE  POIRIER 


Tomorrow's  Professionals 
Apply  Today! 


12  MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  25, 2006 


Put  your  best  hand  forward  for 
something  more  effetive. 

Women's  Kung  Fu  Club 

416-693-4090 


Call  for  class  schedule  and  location. 


piay 
for  our  team 

write  for  sports 
sports@thevarsity.ca 


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kids  req'd.  Cool  activities.  Pay:  $22.50/1 
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Apply  On-line 


OMSAS  www.ouac.on.ca/omsas/ 
Ontario  Medical  School  Application  Service 
^  1  ■  September  15,  2006:  Last  day  for  registering  for 
on-line  applications 

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-  November  1,  2006:  Application  deadline  -  Hrstycar 
May  1,  2007:  Application  deadline  -  Upper  year 


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Application  Service 

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1 

ONTARIO  UNIVERSITIES'  APPLICATION  CEhfTRE 


CENTRE  DE  DEMANOE  D'ADMISSION 
AUX  UNIVERSiTES  DE  UONTARIO 


170  Research  Lane 
Guelph  ON  NIG  5E2 

www.ouac.on.ca 


¥  I  VARSITY  BLUES 


THIS  WEEK'S  GAMES 

RUGBY  -  Scarborough  Campus 
Women  vs.  McMaster  4  p.m. 
Fri.  Sept.  29-4  p.m. 

BASEBALL-  Scarborough  Campus 
Blues  vs.  Laurier 
Fri.  Sept.  29-2  p.m. 
Blues  vs.  Brock 
Sun.  Oct.  I  -  I  p.m. 

SWIMMING  -  Athletic  Centre 

Blues  vs.  McGill 

Sat.  Sept.  30  -  3:30  p.m. 

50  m  Pool 

ICE  HOCKEY  -  Varsity  Arena 
Women's  Marion  Hilliard 
Tournament 

Fri.  Sept.  29  5:15/8  p.m. 
Sat.  Sept.  30  5:15/8  p.m. 
Sun.  Oct.  I  2/5  p.m. 


[SPECIAL  STUDENT  TICKET  PRICE"! 

$25.00  Tickets  For  details,  visit  blueman.ca  and  click  oi. .  , 
Rush  Ticl<et  information. 


(Tc/cetmaster  416.872.1111  Panasonic  Theatre     1.800. BLUE 
ticketmaster.ca  651  Yonge  Street  Toronto  blueman.ca  mmk 


theVARSlTY 


THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  28, 2006 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  TORONTO'S  STUDENT  NEWSPAPER  SINCE  1880 


Nuclear  meds 

Changing  the  shape  of 
breast  cancer  research 
//  p.  10 


White  Night 

Nuit  Blanche  lights  up 
our  city 
//  p.  13- 


//SPECIAL  REPORT 

David  Naylor's  first  year  in 
office  //  Feature  p.  9 
Six  more  years  -  and  a  lot 
more  to  do  //  Editorial  p.  7 


Talks  to  come  for  racism  claim 


Mike  Ghenu 

NEWS  EDITOR 


A  U  of  T  union's  allegation  that  the 
department  of  religion  discriminat- 
ed against  an  Aboriginal  instructor 
is  proceeding  to  mediation  this  fall. 

"The  allegation  is  one  of  discrimi- 
nation on  grounds  of  race,  ancestry, 
and  union  activity,"  said  CUPE  3902 
staff  representative  Mikael  Swayze. 
CUPE  3902  is  the  union  that  repre- 
sents sessional  lecturers  and  teach- 
ing assistants  at  U  of  T. 

According  to  the  union's  allega- 
tions, the  university's  department 
for  the  study  of  religion  has  repeat- 
edly failed  to  hire  Dr.  Donald  Blais, 


an  Orthodox  Christian  and  Penob- 
scot-Metis  who  received  a  doctorate 
in  theology  from  Regis  College,  and 
has  been  teaching  at  U  of  T  since 
1998.  In  the  process,  he  has  attained 
the  rank  of  "sessional  lecturer  II," 
meaning  he  has  been  recognized  as 
a  capable  instructor.  Blais  has  also 
been  twice  nominated  as  instructor 
of  the  year  by  his  students,  accord- 
ing to  a  union  statement. 

The  same  statement  said  that 
Blais  has  only  ever  been  offered 
teaching  work  in  the  field  of  aborigi- 
nal religion,  despite  the  fact  that  his 
dissertation  focused  on  a  key  figure 
in  the  Catholic  Reformation. 
"The  people  who  have  been  hired 


have  less  experience,"  said  Swayze. 
And  according  to  the  union's  collec- 
tive agreement  with  the  university, 
"there  should  be  a  preference  for  a 
sessional  lecturer  II." 

"I'm  not  prepared  to  comment," 
said  department  of  religion  chair 
John  Kloppenborg.  Other  U  of  T  ad- 
ministrators familiar  with  the  case 
could  not  be  reached  for  comment 
by  deadline. 

Dennis  Stark,  an  activist  and 
publisher  of  Tamsi,  an  aboriginal 
community  newspaper,  said  he  has 
known  Blais  for  nearly  ten  years.  He 
compared  his  case  to  that  of  con- 
troversial University  of  Colorado 
professor  Ward  Churchill,  a  Na- 


tive American  academic  who  drew 
criticism  last  year  for  controversial 
statements  he  made  about  the  at- 
tacks on  the  World  Trade  Centre. 

"Dr.  Blais  is  not  the  kind  of  person 
that  would  rant  on  a  podium,  but  he 
does  encourage  freedom  of  thought 
and  expression,"  said  Stark.  "That 
doesn't  sit  well  with  his  colleagues." 

Stark  said  that  if  successful, 
Blais's  case  "will  point  out  to  the 
university  that  it  has  a  long  way  to 
go  to  meet  its  targets  on  equity  hir- 
ing." 

"I  think  it's  a  huge  equity  issue," 
said  Swayze.  "I  am  hopeful  that  me- 
diation will  work,"  he  added.  "We're 
hoping  for  dates  in  October." 


University  president  David  Naylor 
at  his  desk  in  SImcoe  Hall. 


Women' 
means 
trans, 
too 

Esmahan  Razavi  

The  Centre  for  Women  and  Trans 
People  is  celebrating  its  twentieth 
anniversary  as  the  University  of 
Toronto's  primary  gender  advocacy 
group.  Though  the  centre,  with  its 
soft  lighting,  eclectic  furniture  and 
scattered  feminist  literature  may 
not  have  changed  its  decor,  it  has 
undergone  a  fundamental  ideologi- 
cal shift. 

"We've  come  to  the  realization  that 
women  need  to  be  more  inclusive," 
said  Helen  Luu,  the  centre's  coordi- 
nator. "Today  we  know  that  gender 
is  not  biological,  it's  something  that 
is  socially  constructed.  That's  why 
we  are  trying  to  be  an  inclusive  envi- 
ronment for  everyone  who  identifies 
themselves  as  a  woman." 

So  earlier  this  year,  the  centre 
changed  its  name  to  the  Centre  for 
Women  and  Trans  People. 

"When  it  first  started  out,  the  cen- 
tre was  made  up  of  white,  middle- 
class  women.  Today  women  of  all 
colours  and  all  races  drop  by,"  said 
Luu.  "We're  trying  our  best  to  make 
the  centre's  policies  completely  in- 

SEE  WOMEN' -PG  2 


Allison  Martell 


Judging  by  the  throngs  of  suits  who 
were  sipping  Australian  wines  on  its 
ground  floor  at  a  private  industry 
function  on  Wednesday,  the  MaRS 
innovation  centre — which  marks  a 
year  since  its  opening  this  week — is 
many  things  to  many  people. 

Housed  in  a  new  building  at  Col- 
lege Street  and  University  Avenue, 
MaRS  is  not  part  of  U  of  T,  but  has 
received  $5  million  in  funding  from 
the  university. 

AXS  Studio  Inc.  is  one  of  the 
young  businesses  found  at  MaRS. 
Run  by  three  graduates  of  U  of  T's 
Biomedical  Communications  pro- 


gram, it  provides  illustrations  and 
animations  of  medical  concepts 
for  biotech  firms,  pharmaceutical 
start-ups  and  television  shows.  Last 
fall  AXS  moved  in  to  the  incubator, 
where  it  qualifies  for  reduced  rent, 
specialized  facilities  and  business 
services. 

"We  were  looking  for  studio  space 
and  they  seemed  to  like  what  we 
do,"  said  Jason  Sharpe,  who  is  also 
a  lecturer  and  research  associate  at 
U  of  T  in  addition  to  being  a  scientif- 
ic animator  at  AXS.  "It's  a  great  ad- 
dress to  have  for  the  business  we're 
in,"  he  said  of  the  Centre.  "Clients 
respond  to  the  fact  that  we're  in  a 
scientific  centre.  Geographically 
we're  located  right  in  the  heart  of 


probably  the  highest  concentration 
of  medical  research  anywhere  in 
the  world,  so  the  potential  for  future 
projects  is  enormous." 

At  a  governing  council  meeting  in 
2001  that  discussed  the  $5  million 
donation  to  not-for-profit  MaRS,  U 
of  T's  administration  argued  that 
the  Centre  would  encourage  ap- 
plied research,  help  attract  top 
researchers,  and  provide  jobs  and 
internships  for  students.  Five  years 
later,  two  of  the  project's  major  sup- 
porters at  U  of  T — vice-presidents 
Heather  Munroe-Blum  and  Adel  S. 
Sedra — have  moved  on.  The  acro- 
nym "Medical  and  Related  Scienc- 
es" has  been  dropped,  indicating  a 
more  ambiguous  focus.  But  AXS  is 


LIFE  ON  MARS:  The  futuristic  building  at 
101  College  St.  houses  25  "incubator" 
tenants. 


going  strong,  with  multiple  projects 
on  the  go,  including  CGI  work  for 
the  Global  genetics  television  show 
ReGenesis.  Elsewhere  on  their  floor, 
much  more  is  happening. 

Claron  Technology  is  also  grow- 
ing, already  looking  for  more  space 
in  the  building.  Claron  provides 
software  for  CT  machines  and  mar- 
kets a  device  for  surgical  naviga- 
tion. They  use  the  temperature-con- 
trolled room  provided  at  MaRS,  and 
founder  Claudio  Gatti  is  grateful  for 
access  to  pricey  market  studies. 

"This  type  of  environment  is  a 
way  to  basically  get  R&D,  ideas,  and 
sometimes  intellectual  property 
from  the  university  and  channel  it 
through  the  commercial  channels," 
he  said.  "Absolutely,  I  think  it's  a 
great  idea." 

Only  a  year  ago  the  ethics  of  com- 
mercialization was  a  hot  topic  at  U  of 
T.  Vioxx  was  still  making  headlines, 
as  it  became  clear  that  the  anti-ar- 
thritis drug  caused  heart  attacks. 
Some  blamed  thousands  of  deaths 
on  the  drug,  and  the  New  England 
Journal  of  Medicine  accused  U  of  T 
researcher  Claire  Bombardier  and 
others  of  deleting  relevant  data 
from  their  studies  on  the  drug.  It's 
the  sort  of  affair  to  make  one  think 
twice  before  putting  venture  capi- 
talists and  drug  researchers  in  the 
same  building,  let  alone  the  same 
networking  session.  But  that's  just 
what  MaRS  is  doing. 

Constab  Pharmaceutical  Inc.  is 
another  incubator  tenant  working 
on  an  anti-cancer  drug. 

SEE 'MARS' -PG  4 


t 


THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  28, 2006 


VARSITY  NEWS 


news@thevarsity.ca 


Buy  Tupperware,  save  $ 
Sell  Tupperware,  earn  $ 

\AAA/w.ruthdd.ca 

(647)  282-4FUN 


Participants  Needed!! 

DO  YOU  EXPERIENCE  SOME  OF 
THE  FOLLOWING? 

Feelings  of  sadness 
Difficulty  sleeping 

Loss  of  energy 
Weight  loss/gain 
Difficulty  thinking 

If  so,  you  may  be  eligible  to  participate  in  a  brain  imaging  study  of 
depression  at  the  Centre  for  Addiction  and  Mental  Health. 

The  study  includes  comprehensive  assessment,  non-experimental 
treatment  and  the  option  for  follow-up  care 

Participants  must  be  non  smokers  aged  18-50,  in  good 
health  and  not  currently  taking  any  medication. 
Compensation  provided. 

For  more  information,  please  call:  (416)  535-8501  ext.  4417 


camh 


Centre  for  Addiction  and  Mental  Health 
Centre  de  toxicomanie  et  de  sante  mentale 


MASSIVE  BRAIN 

with  impressive  body  of  work  and 
numerous  international  awards 
enjoys  frequent  publishing  in  top 
journals  and  spending  time  in 
North  America's  third-largest 
research  library.  Seeks  like- 
minded   grad   students  for 

similar  pursuits. 


Shopping  with  a 
conscience 


Student-run  co-op  shop  grows  up 


Scott  Gilbert,  Kate  Sage,  and  Fraser  Thomson  are  the  smiHng  faces  behind  Fair  Trade  Clothing  Co-op,  a  shop  that  sells  shirts  made 
from  organic  cotton. 


Josef  Szende 


Recent  visitors  to  Seekers  Books, 
the  popular  bookstore  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Bloor  Street  West  and  Bor- 
den Street,  will  be  surprised  to 
see  some  fresh  faces  at  the  back 
of  the  store. 

The  Fair  Trade  Clothing  Co-op 
moved  there  last  month,  displac- 
ing its  old  head  shop.  The  store 
was  started  by  Scott  Gilbert  and 
two  friends  from  the  University  of 
Guelph  who  wanted  to  make  fair- 
trade  clothing  available  for  the 
first  time  in  Canada. 

"I  was  very  frustrated,"  Gilbert 
recalled  of  his  time  at  Guelph.  "I 
found  that  of  all  the  courses  that 


1  needed  to  take  for  my  degree, 
1  could  not  take  a  single  course 
that  had  to  do  with  fair  trade  and 
social  justice.  This  is  what  1  think 
education  should  be  about." 

Fair  trade  is  a  certification  and 
labelling  system  that  stamps  its 
logo  on  products  for  consumers 
who  want  to  pay  a  higher  price 
to  see  that  standards  for  better 
working  conditions  and  wages 
are  met  by  clothing  manufactur- 
ers. 

The  shop  debuted  earlier  this 
year  in  Kensington  Market,  then 
moved  to  the  more  prominent 
location  at  509  Bloor  St.  W.  last 
month. 

All  the  clothes  they  sell  are 
made  from  organic  cotton.  The 
shirts  come  from  a  co-operative 
in  El  Salvador  called  Cooperativa 
de  Madres  Solteras,  which  em- 
ploys single  mothers. 

The  store  is  yet  to  break  even 
after  four  months  of  operation. 
In  order  to  get  loans  they  are  offi- 
cially a  for-profit  business,  but  the 


co-op  has  decided  to  give  away 
all  the  extra  money  they  have  af- 
ter expenses  are  paid  off  to  pro- 
gressive community  groups. 

In  addition  to  selling  fair-trade 
products,  and  attending  Guelph 
part-time,  Gilbert  has  been  put- 
ting on  weekly  screenings  of  doc- 
umentaries at  the  Bloor  Cinema. 
The  store  has  a  growing  selection 
of  such  films,  which  Gilbert  hopes 
will  grow  to  be  Canada's  largest 
one  day.  It  also  sells  books  and 
fair  trade  foods. 

For  Kate  Sage,  one  of  the  store's 
volunteers — none  of  the  workers 
are  paid — the  store  makes  global 
sense. 

"One  hundred  years  ago,  the 
sweatshops  were  here,"  she  said. 
"People  heard  about  the  stories 
of  kids  who  got  their  hair  pulled 
off  and  fingers  pulled  off  and  peo- 
ple got  angry  about  it. 

"Now  we  can  get  these  products 
super-cheap,  but  it's  at  the  cost  of 
the  livelihood  and  the  standard 
of  living  of  people  overseas." 


'WOMEN'  -  CONTINUED  FROM  PG  1 

elusive.  It's  hard  work,  but  it's  some- 
thing we  are  committed  to.  Right 
now,  we're  incorporating  material 
that  is  trans-inclusive  into  our  poli- 
cies." 

Founded  in  1986,  the  centre  was 
established  after  a  group  of  women, 
calling  themselves  the  Coalition  for 
a  Women's  Centre  at  U  of  T,  camped 
outside  of  Simcoe  Hall,  where  the 
university's  senior  administrators 
are  housed. 

"The  University  of  Toronto  was 
the  only  university  in  Ontario  with- 
out a  centre  for  women.  In  fact,  York 
University  had  a  centre  for  women 
11  years  before  we  did,"  said  Luu. 


Later  that  year,  the  group  was 
granted  space  by  the  University 
on  the  main  floor  of  the  North  Bor- 
den building,  at  563  Spadina  Ave.  It 
quickly  became  a  haven  for  women 
on  campus  where  they  could  en- 
gage in  political  discussion,  study, 
lounge,  or  deal  with  more  pressing 
issues. 

"We  had  to  deal  with  issues  relat- 
ing to  sexual  violence,  sexual  as- 
sault and  referrals.  That  was  and 
remains  to  be  a  big  part  of  what  we 
do,"  said  Luu. 

To  celebrate  its  first  20  years,  the 
centre  will  be  hosting  a  birthday 
bash  on  Saturday  evening  at  the 
Cecil  Street  Community  Centre  at  8 
Cecil  St. 


The  University  of  Toronto  Grad  School  is  now  accepting 
applications  from  top  candidates  flirting  with  the  idea 
of  pursuing  their  grad  studies  here.  We  think  it's  a  per- 
fect match.  You're  a  brilliant  U  ofT  undergrad.  We're  an 
irresistible  combination  of  scholarship  and  world- 
renowned  research.  But  don't  admire  us  for  our  brains 
alone.  U  of  T  is  that  dynamic  campus  in  this  diverse  city 
you  already  love.  If  you'd  like  to  meet  the  Grad  School, 
ask  your  career  centre  about  the  grad  fair  on  October  5, 
2006.  Or  contact  us  any  time. 

gradschool@sgs.utoronto.ca 
www.gradschool.utoronto.ca 


UNIVERSITY<^TORONTO 


THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  28, 2006 


)?;^VARSITY 


Notice  of 
Annual  General  Meeting 

Want  to  make  a  difference  at  your  university's  biggest  and  best  campus 
newspaper?  Learn  about  our  policies?  Scrutinize  our  budget?  Maybe  even 
change  things  around  here? 

Here's  your  chance!  Come  to  The  Varsity's  Annual  General  Meeting! 

You  paid  your  $1.25  -  time  to  give  us  your  two  cents.  Every  student 
who  has  paid  a  levy  of  $1.25  per  annum  in  her  or  his  student  fees  is 
welcome  to  attend  the  Annual  General  Meeting  along  with  our  elected 
Board  of  Directors.  We  want  to  hear  your  ideas  about  what  we  should  be 
doing  at  the  paper  this  year. 

Remember,  it's  your  newspaper  too!  The  Varsity  is  a  democracy,  so  come 
and 

share  your  ideas  with  us  about  how  we  can  make  it  better. 
When:  Tuesday,  October  3,  2006  at  6:00  p.m. 


Where:  The  Bahen  Centre  for  Information  Technology,  Room  2145 


4  THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  28, 2006 


VARSITY  NEWS 


news@thevarsity.ca 


Life  in  the  bike  lane 


Katie  Baneth 


"I  wish  the  city,  specifically  along 
College  Street  and  Bathurst,  would 
erect  signage  for  bikers,"  said  Tam- 
my Thorne,  a  part-time  political  sci- 
ence students. 

"We've  got  gridlock  and  angry, 
frustrated  drivers.  Roads  [are]  in 
bad  repair.  Parking  is  hard  to  find 
and  we're  having  record  numbers 
of  smog  days — and  people  dying  of 
smog-related  illnesses.  We  need  to 
voice  this  to  pressure  change." 

This  Friday,  Worth  will  be  leading 
a  column  of  cyclists  on  Queen  Street 
West,  as  part  of  a  new  monthly  event 
to  encourage  bike  commuting  in  To- 
ronto. The  event,  called  BikeFriday, 
debuted  last  month,  and  was  the 
brainchild  of  cycling  activist  Joseph 
Travers.  He  was  encouraged  by  the 
turn-out  to  the  first  BikeFriday. 

"It  was  a  great  start  especially 
since  a  CRFB  reporter  and  City 
Councillor  Joe  Mihevc  rode  their 
bikes  and  got  involved,"  Travers 
said. 

For  the  commuters  who  will  be 
joining  her  at  Queen  Street  West 
and  Sorauren  Avenue  on  Friday  at  8 
a.m.,  Worth  has  her  own  riding  tips 
to  offer. 

"I  try  to  go  behind  the  motorist  so 
he  can  turn  right,  unimpeded,"  said 
Thorne.  "But,  of  course  I  can  only 
do  this  if  the  motorist  indicates.  It 
seems  to  be  out  of  fashion  to  signal 


Tammy  Thorne,  a  poli  sci  student,  is  one  of  the  people  organizing  a  bike  commute  at 
this  week's  BikeFriday,  which  takes  place  the  last  Friday  of  the  month. 


your  turns  these  days." 

Late-risers  need  not  miss  out  on 
the  fun.  At  6  p.m.,  bikers  will  con- 
gregate at  the  domino  sculputures 
at  Spadina  Avenue  and  Bloor  Street 
West  for  another  monthly  cycling 
event:  Critical  Mass. 


It  began  in  1992  in  San  Francisco 
and  has  spread  to  over  four  hun- 
dred cities  around  the  world.  Cy- 
clists join  ranks  traveling  along 
downtown  Toronto's  biggest  streets 
until  there  are  enough  of  them  to  oc- 
cupy the  whole  street. 


Attention  All  SAC  Members 


The  Student's  Admlnstrative  Council  -  your  students' 
union  -  is  holding  a  byelection  to  fill  vacancies  on 
the  Board  of  Directors  in  the  following  constituenices. 

Ontario  Institute  for  Studies  in  Education 
Toronto  School  of  Theology 
Transitional  Year  Program 
University  College 

Nomination  Period 

Sept.  18th  at  12  noon  to  Sept.  22nd  at  5  pm 
Second  Nomination  Period 

Sept.  25th  at  12  noon  to  Sept.  29th  at  5  pm 
All  Candidates  Meeting 

Friday  September  29th  at  5pm 
Campaign  Period 

Oct.  2nd  at  12  noon  to  Oct.  13  at  5pm 
Voting  Period 

Oct.  1 1th  at  12  noon  to  Oct.  13  at  5pm 

To  become  a  candidate,  members  of  a  constituency 
can  pick  up  a  candidate  information  package  during 
the  nomination  period  in  the  SAC  office.  If  no 
candidates  are  nominated  for  a  specific  seat, 
nominations  for  these  seats  will  become  open  to  all 
full-time  undergraduates  during  the  second  nomination 
period.  Full  election  rules  are  available  from  SAC. 

For  further  information,  contact  Elections  Committee 
c/o  VP  University  Affairs,  vpua@sac.utoronto.ca 
12  Hart  House  Circle,  University  of  Toronto 
416-978-4911  x230 

Students'  Administrative  Council 


Energy-saving 
initiative  aims  to 
Vewire  our  brains' 


Smita  Saxena 


With  a  wire-cutting  ceremony  yes- 
terday at  Sidney  Smith,  U  of  T's  Sus- 
tainability  Office  kiciced  off  Rewire, 
a  campaign  designed  to  reduce  en- 
ergy use  in  university  buildings. 

The  program  has  received  over 
$250,000  in  government  funding 
for  its  behavioral  approach  to  en- 
ergy conservation.  Instead  of  doing 
technical  research,  as  York  Univer- 
sity is  currently  doing.  Rewire  uses 
"social  motivation"  techniques, 
such  as  scattering  signs  through- 
out seven  university  residences, 
which  remind  students  to  flick  off 
the  lights  when  no  one  is  around. 

"We  live  in  a  bubble  and  we  for- 
get that  the  world  is  running  out  of 
natural  resources.  So,  it's  great  to 
have  these  little  reminders  to  tell 
us  to  save,"  said  Louisa  Gomez,  a 
third-year  environmental  science 
student. 

These  "little  reminders"  led  to 
great  results  in  a  pilot  study  done 
over  the  summer  and  have  now 
opened  the  door  for  many  new 
projects. 

Another  Rewire  project  in  the 
works  aims  to  reduce  the  amount 
of  energy  used  to  light  the  stacks 
at  Robarts  library  with  controlled 
lighting.  Lights  dim  when  no  one  is 
around,  but  as  soon  as  there  is  any 
movement  they  brighten. 


Speeches  by  noted  dignitaries,  in- 
cluding university  president  David 
Naylor,  Toronto  Hydro  CEO  David 
O'Brien,  and  Toronto  Atmospheric 
Fund  (TAF)  executive  director  Phil- 
ip Jessup,  the  Sustainaibility  Office 
was  lauded  for  its  revolutionary  ap- 
proach towards  "reducing  the  con- 
sumption of  energy  and  other  re- 
sources at  University  of  Toronto." 

"Technology  is  not  going  to  do 
the  trick.  We  have  to  rewire  our 
brains,"  said  TAF's  Jessup. 

He  said  that  students  will  have 
to  get  comfortable  with  the  idea  of 
dimmer  lighting.  The  streets  and 
buildings  in  Toronto  are  over-lit 
according  to  all  the  speakers,  and 
people  need  to  modify  their  think- 
ing to  get  used  to  the  idea  of  less 
light. 

Toronto  Hydro's  O'Brien  said 
his  company  was  looking  towards 
hiring  U  of  T  students  to  establish 
a  behavioral  marketing  program 
based  on  Rewire. 

In  particular,  Toronto  Hydro  is 
interested  in  expanding  a  motiva- 
tional program  begun  this  summer. 
It  promised  consumers  a  ten  per 
cent  discount  on  their  hydro  bills, 
provided  they  reduced  their  power 
use  by  ten  per  cent. 

O'Brien  said  the  program  was  a 
success  and  hoped  the  percentage 
discount  would  increase  to  33  per 
cent  in  the  future. 


'MARS' -CONTINUED  FROM  PG  1 

"Our  goal  is  to  repeat  the  Cana- 
dian success  of  Banting  and  Best 
in  192L  who  discovered  a  way  to 
produce  insulin  in  a  laboratory  of 
the  University  of  Toronto,  leading 
to  the  treatment  of  diabetic  patients 
worldwide,"  said  Stephane  Gagne, 
Constab's  president  and  CEO,  with 
unabashed  ambition. 

The  CVCA,  an  industry  associa- 
tion for  venture  capitalists,  is  a  non- 
incubator  tenant  attracted  by  the 
location. 

"The  building  is  very  state  of  the 
art,"  said  Lauren  Linton,  Director  of 
Marketing.  "It's  where  we  should  be, 
because  what  the  CVCA  is  all  about 
is  leading-edge  innovation."  The 
rent,  she  said,  is  competitive. 

Not  all  of  governing  council's 


promises  have  materialized  -  none 
of  the  tenants  interviewed  employ  U 
of  T  students,  for  example.  But  now- 
adays there  is  little  or  no  criticism  of 
the  MaRS  Centre,  perhaps  because 
the  university's  $5  million  contribu- 
tion was  a  one-time  donation  that 
governing  council  need  not  approve 
again. 

Neither  the  MaRS  foundation  nor 
U  of  T's  administration  made  them- 
selves available  for  interviews  for 
this  article. 

For  the  tenants,  MaRS  is  just  a 
great  place  to  do  business  and  find 
new  clients. 

"We  look  at  our  neighbours  as  po- 
tential clients  but  also  as  potential 
collaborators,"  said  Sharpe.  "There's 
a  real  buzz  around  MaRS  [...]  there' 
a  lot  going  on  here  so  it's  an  exciting 
place  to  be." 


Claudio  Gatti,  of  Claron  Technology,  demonstrates  a  device  that  helps  brain  surgeons 
track  their  moves  during  operation. 


Varsity 


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6   THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  28, 2006 


The  Varsity 


Audit  •  Tax  •  Transaction  Advisory  Services 

HI  Ernst  &YOUNG 

BTOM  FMir  ft  YOMS  ur 

Quality  In  Everything  We  Do 

opinions@thevarsity.ca 


VARSITY  COMMENT 


Now  for  the  hard  part 


When  Dr.  David  Naylor  was 
named  U  of  T's  15th  president  in 
May  of  last  year,  many  could  be 
pardoned  for  their  cynicism.  After 
all,  the  previous  president,  Robert 
Birgeneau,  had  left  to  be  chancel- 
lor of  Berkeley  mid-way  through 
his  term,  and  it  took  nearly  a  year 
to  find  his  replacement.  This  news- 
paper had  even  argued  that  the  of- 
fice of  university  president  should 
be  abolished  altogether. 

Yet  since  assuming  office  on 
October  1  of  last  year,  Naylor  has 
managed  to  wrong-foot  his  critics. 
He  began  his  tenure  with  a  PR  blitz, 
playing  ball  with  students,  sitting  in 
on  classes,  and  making  himself  vis- 
ible to  the  community,  as  any  am- 
bassador of  the  university  should. 

He  has  made  the  right  sounds 


-  EDITORIAL  ^ 

about  adding  a  student  commons 
on  St.  George  campus.  And  despite 
criticism  of  his  administration's  re- 
sponse to  this  spring's  spate  of  hate 
attacks,  his  statement  in  response 
left  even  some  of  the  vociferous 
student  leaders  impressed. 

But  as  he  reflects  on  his  first  year 
in  office  at  the  presidential  house 
in  Rosedale  this  Sunday,  he  ought 
not  allow  this  quick  start  to  fade 
into  complacency.  For  there  are 
three  main  challenges  his  adminis- 
tration must  tackle  during  its  com- 
ing years. 

Foremost  among  them  is  the 
university's  deferred  maintenance 
problem.  Ten  years  of  provincial 


underfunding  and  neglect  took 
their  toll  on  the  university's  main- 
tenance budget.  Buildings  such  as 
Robarts  Library  and  the  Medical 
Sciences  Building  are  crumbling.  A 
report  last  winter  placed  the  total 
value  of  delayed  repairs  at  nearly 
$300  million.  Clearly,  this  is  unsus- 
tainable and  the  university  must 
commit  serious  cash — nearly  $50 
million  a  year  to  be  sure,  and  not 
the  $8  million  allocated  in  2006— 
to  begin  to  make  a  dent. 

Secondly,  his  administration 
must  still  convince  skeptics,  includ- 
ing many  students,  that  its  commit- 
ment to  the  "student  experience" 
and  the  re-positioning  of  U  of  T  as  a 
"student-centered  research  univer- 
sity" is  more  than  just  whitewash. 

And  what  better  way  to  do  this 


than  by  moving  ahead  swiftly  with 
plans  to  build  a  student  centre? 
Indeed,  it  is  a  shame  that  U  of  T's 
largest  campus  still  lacks  such  a 
centre,  while  UTM  and  UTSC  have 
had  theirs  since  1999  and  2004,  re- 
spectively. 

Lastly,  the  university  must  sort 
out  its  finances  without  passing  too 
much  of  the  burden  onto  students 
through  tuition  fee  hikes  (There 
is  a  deficit  of  $9.3  million  forecast 
for  the  current  year.).  This  could 
be  accomplished  by  shrinking  the 
university's  bloated  bureaucracy 
and  further  trimming  the  salaries 
of  top  administrators,  who  are  al- 
ready among  the  best-paid  in  the 
province. 

But  perhaps  Naylor's  biggest 
challenge  as  the  university's  de 


THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  28, 2006  7 


facto  CEO  might  be  to  groom  a  suc- 
cessor who  will  better  represent 
the  diversity  that  exists  within  U  of 
T's  students,  staff,  and  faculty. 

In  planning  his  six  remaining 
years,  Naylor  has  a  few  advantages 
as  university  president.  He  need 
not  face  an  electorate  every  so  of- 
ten, nor  must  he  answer  to  any  Bay 
Street  suits  demanding  immediate 
returns.  He  will,  however,  have  to 
answer  to  generations  of  future 
governors,  students,  and,  yes, 
scribblers  like  us,  who  will  see  his 
portrait  in  Simcoe  Hall's  council 
chamber  and  ask:  who  was  David 
Naylor,  and  what  did  he  do? 

So  far,  the  doctor's  diagno- 
sis seems  sound.  It's  time  to  see 
whether  his  prescription  does  the 
trick. 


►  LETTERS  ^ 


Email  aggravation  from 
the  *Saug  to  St.  George 


Afshan  Makhani 


Anticipating  some  important  emails  after 
class  on  July  26,  I  gasped  when  I  found  out 
that  my  UTM  email  account  apparently  no 
longer  existed.  1  panicked,  wondering  how  to 
contact  classmates  for  a  presentation  due  in 
a  few  days. 

1  fumed  in  frustration  when  I  was  informed 
that  all  Erindale  students  were  expected  to 
get  an  utoronto.ca  account  as  of  Wednesday, 
July  26,  and  that  all  UTM  email  accounts 
would  no  longer  be  valid  after  that  date.  I 
searched  frantically  for  the  UTORID  activa- 
tion information  1  had  tucked  away  long  ago, 
since  no  services  or  computers  at  UTM  re- 
quired a  UTORID  login. 

Hours — and  many  curses — later,  1  calmed 
down  a  little  when  1  was  notified  that  in  24 
hours  1  would  have  my  very  first  utoronto. 
ca  email  account.  Sure,  it  was  my  fault  that  I 
hadn't  read  about  the  address  change  on  the 
UTM  website,  but  then  again  who  really  both- 
ers to  read  every  piece  of  information  on  the 
school  site? 

Upon  learning  the  reasons  for  the  switch, 
1  admit  that  UTM  did  have  some  reasonable 
explanations  for  transferring  to  the  UTORID 
system.  One  explanation  was  to  ensure  an 
easier  transition  when  new  services  requir- 
ing a  UTORID  are  introduced  at  UTM. 

An  implausible  reason  given,  however,  was 
that  students  would  now  have  only  one  U  of  T 
email  account  to  remember.  What  difference 
would  it  make  to  the  administration  if  a  stu- 
dent chose  to  remember  two  passwords  and 
email  addresses  instead  of  one? 

The  changeover  was  not  without  its  prob- 


lems. We  were  assured  that  our  existing 
email  folders  would  be  moved  to  the  new  ad- 
dresses and  that  any  mail  addressed  to  utm. 
utoronto.ca  accounts  would  be  forwarded  to 
our  new  ones.  However,  many  students  lost 
old  emails  and  address  books,  and  did  not 
receive  any  new  mail  sent  to  the  old  UTM  ac- 
counts. 

Although  UTM's  decision  proved  to  be  a 
major  inconvenience  for  email  users,  at  least 
the  switch  occurred  over  the  summer,  when 
the  majority  of  students  were  not  busy  with 
school.  When  the  general  U  of  T  webmail 
system  was  overhauled  this  September,  stu- 
dents were  starting  all  their  classes  and  thus 
heavily  dependent  on  their  email  accounts, 
which  was  far  worse  timing. 

A  common  complaint  about  this  switchover 
was  that  it  made  webmail  too  slow,  causing 
students  to  miss  important  meeting  notices 
and  hindering  assignments  that  required 
email  communication  with  professors. 

Another  problem  that  students  voiced  was 
the  unreliability  of  the  new  system.  Some  stu- 
dents claimed  to  have  sent  emails  that  the 
system  did  not  deliver.  Some  tried  to  forward 
mail  to  other  email  accounts,  but  the  system 
also  hindered  this  because  email  from  the 
UTORID  account  took  a  whole  week  to  reach 
the  other  email  account. 

The  question  1  was  left  asking  myself  in  re- 
gards to  both  the  UTM  address  switch  and 
the  UTORID  system  changeover  was  why  the 
administration  wanted  to  change  something 
that  seemed  to  be  working  well.  Although  I'm 
sure  they  were  attempting  to  better  services 
for  students,  the  changes  instead  caused  a 
lot  of  inconvenience. 


Students  must 
govern  new  centre 

Re:  Student  centre  levy  likely,  Sept.  25 

This  is  an  exciting  and  interesting  develop- 
ment and  a  huge  victory  after  years  of  student 
lobbying  dating  back  to  the  1960s.  This  year's 
SAC  executive  has  proven  to  be  committed 
to  improving  the  student  experience  and  has 
shown  their  ability  to  influence  governance 
by  effectively  commuriiciiting  the  needs  of  its 
members. 

As  enrolment  increases  and  we  begin  to 
see  the  impact  on  availability  of  labs  and 
study  space,  and  focus  on  generating  solu- 
tions for  these  problems,  little  is  said  about 
student  space.  The  student  space  report  and 
recommendations  indicate  that  the  university 
administration  is  listening  to  student  needs  and 
is  committed  to  enhancing  the  undergraduate 
experience.  The  most  important  question  as 
the  plan  moves  ahead  is  not  an  issue  of  a  levy; 
rather,  it  is  whether  or  not  a  future  student  com- 
mons will  have  student  control  and  a  gover- 
ncmce  model  empowering  students. 

EsTEFANfA  Toledo 
Part-time  student  governor 

Planting  rumours 

Re:  The  woman  who  knew  too  much?, 
Sept.  14 

Caroline  Xia,  founder  of  the  community  garden- 
ing movement  on  campus,  advocated  for  the 
ideal  of  zero-cost  organic  gardening  and  named 
the  garden,  established  by  SAC  in  2002,  "Food 
for  All."  Caroline  created  much  of  the  soil  in  the 
present  garden  through  diligent  composting. 
Her  community-oriented  policies  directly  and 
indirectly  created  many  campus  gardening 
jobs.  She  was  assisted  in  all  of  this  by  the  dedi- 
cated members  of  the  OPIRG  Equity  Gardeners, 


which  she  founded  and  coordinated.  The  suc- 
cess of  the  "Food  for  All"  Organic  Community 
Garden  is  due  largely  to  Caroline. 

SAC  2005/6  and  SAC  2006/7  have  ignored 
her  outstanding  contribution  to  the  quality  of 
campus  life.  This  is  the  fate  common  to  many 
talented  people  of  colour,  whose  generosity  and 
abilities  aire  overlooked  by  mainstream  society. 

The  garden  was  meant  to  grow  food,  not 
decoratives.  Every  year  that  CcU'oline  mcinciged 
the  garden,  it  produced  food  abundantly  for 
all.  SAC's  Rick  Teller  is  wrong  to  say  the  garden 
was  in  a  bad  state;  I  can  attest  to  the  garden's 
productivity  and  status. 

A  great  wrong  has  been  done  to  Caroline  Xia 
and  to  Toronto's  hungry  by  SAC  2005/6  and  SAC 
2006/7.  The  current  SAC  should  apologize  to 
Caroline  and  recognize  the  campus'  immense 
debt  to  her  SAC  should  also  immediately  re- 
store the  garden  to  safe  food  production. 

David  Melville 

Former  member,  U  of  T  Governing  Council 

•  I  am  a  U  of  T  graduate  student  who,  through 
my  part-time  job  at  a  nearby  retail  store,  has  be- 
come familiar  with  Caroline  Xia.  I  have  casually 
chatted  with  Caroline  in  my  store  over  the  last 
six  years,  and  1  have  always  found  her  pleasant, 
interesting,  and  most  importantly,  lucid. 

Her  devotion  to  her  academic  work  and  to  the 
maintenance  of  the  SAC  garden  was  a  topic  that 
often  came  up  in  our  conversations.  I  was  cil- 
ways  humbled  by  her  commitment  to  providing 
free  organic  produce  to  those  less  financially 
fortunate,  and  by  how  knowledgeable  she  is 
about  organic  gardening  techniques. 

1  was  shocked  to  discover  that  her  efforts  are 
not  funded  by  SAC,  the  way  all  the  other  clubs 
are,  and  1  strongly  feel  that  ought  to  be  rectified 
immediately.  Caroline  deserves  an  honorarium 
for  all  the  hard  work  she  has  put  into  the  gar- 
den, making  a  difference  by  providing  organic 
produce  to  those  who  may  not  otherwise  be 
able  to  afford  it. 

Teela  Johnson 


WARSITY 

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8   THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  28, 2006 


VARSITY  COMMENT 


opinions@thevarsity.ca 


Commuters,  take 
back  your  campus 

This  place  will  get  to  you,  unless  you  get  involved 


Don't  let  your  university  careers  whiz  by,  commuters. 


Sana  Ahmed  

If  all  goes  well,  my  four-year  stint  at  U  of  T  will 
effectively  come  to  an  end  in  2007.  The  past 
three  years  went  by  so  quickly.  But  if  some- 
one were  to  ask  me  to  summarize  each  year 
that  I  spent  at  this  school,  one  point  would 
stand  out. 

Instead  of  living  on  campus,  1  commuted 
from  Scarberia.  I  disliked  that  aspect  very 
much. 

To  begin  with,  first  year  was  a  ho-hum  and 
unstimulating  affair.  To  put  it  bluntly,  1  de- 
spised it.  I  am  a  social  animal,  and  coming 
straight  out  of  high  school  I  was,  perhaps 
naively,  expecting  university  to  be  a  similar 
experience. 

Boy,  was  I  ever  wrong.  Classes  were  huge, 
professors  were  mean — with  the  exception  of 
the  stellar  Nick  Mount  of  ENG  140 — and  I  was 
bored.  Not  only  bored,  but  depressed  and 
alone.  Therefore,  1  remember  first  year,  but 
definitely  not  fondly. 

Second  year  started  off  in  the  same  vein. 
Classes  were  somewhat  smaller  and  more 
interesting,  but  the  whole  social  aspect  was 
lacking.  How  can  one  make  lasting  friends 
at  this  school?  You  go  to  class,  take  notes, 
and  say  hi  to  some  different  random  person 
each  time.  Or  sometimes  you  might  even  be 
blessed  with  a  person  sitting  beside  you  who 
won't  even  acknowledge  your  presence. 

A  few  months  into  second  year,  thankfully, 
my  desperate  existence  ended.  I  joined  the 
Telefund  Call  Centre.  I  was  low  on  cash  and 
happened  to  run  into  a  friend  who  worked 
there.  Since  starting  work  there,  I've  made 
many  friends  whom  I've  come  to  love.  Be- 
cause of  my  campus  job,  coming  to  school 
began  to  help  instead  of  hinder  my  emotional 
and  social  well-being. 

This  article  is  a  heads-up,  especially  for 
those  of  you  who  are  just  starting  out  here. 
University  is  supposed  to  an  experience  that 


should  do  more  than  challenge  you  intellec- 
tually. This  experience  should  help  you  make 
friends  with  whom  you  hang  out  and  engage 
in  conversation.  This  is  a  really  crucial  aspect 
to  commuters'  well-being,  for  1  can  testify  to 
the  fact  that  not  interacting  with  another  hu- 
man being  during  a  six-hour  break,  week  after 
week,  can  make  you  go  crazy. 

Like  elementary  and  high  school,  universi- 
ty should  be  a  time  when  you  can  make  mean- 
ingful friends.  That  did  not  happen  to  me  im- 
mediately. Like  thousands  of  other  students 
enrolled  at  the  university,  I  never  lived  on 
campus,  and  this  distance  definitely  caused 
me  to  feel  alienated. 

But  the  difference  between  me  and  some- 
one else  who  started  off  university  in  a  simi- 
lar way  is  that  1  seized  an  opportunity.  Even 
though  this  came  in  a  form  of  a  job  on  cam- 
pus, getting  involved  really  helped  me  feel  in- 
tegrated in  the  whole — usually  exclusive — U 
of  T  environment. 

I  would  like  to  change  that  environment. 
I've  learned  that  the  onus  lies  on  you  to  find 
ways  to  get  involved,  whether  through  joining 
clubs,  playing  intramural  sports,  working  on 
campus,  or  whatever.  By  getting  involved  in 
things  like  these,  1  began  to  feel  as  though  I 
belonged. 

My  college,  Victoria,  has  an  Off-Campusers 
Commuters'  Association,  and  I'm  sure  that 
other  colleges  have  similar  clubs  that  cater 
specifically  to  commuters.  Joining  such  clubs 
is  an  excellent  way  for  commuters  to  expand 
their  social  life  and  foster  university  friend- 
ships that  will  last. 

So  next  time  you  go  to  class,  take  a  few  sec- 
onds and  say  hi  to  the  person  sitting  next  to 
you.  Trust  me:  they  will  want  to  talk,  espe- 
cially if  they  happen  to  be  a  commuter.  You'll 
connect  to  another  human,  and  you  might 
just  get  a  new  friend  out  of  it.  After  all,  as  the 
Beatles  put  it  so  eloquently,  "All  you  need  is 
love." 


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editor@thevarsity.ca 


THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  28, 2006  9 


The  doctor's  first  check-up 

After  one  year  in  office,  JOSEPHINE  lee  takes  the  pulse  of  David  Naylor's  presidency 


$350,000  SMILE:  University  president  David  Naylor  in  Simcoe  Hall's  Council  Chambers  in  May  2005.  He  became  U  of  T's  15th  president  on  Oct.  1,  of  that  year. 


The  University  of  Toronto  Presi- 
dential Home  has  a  jaw-drop- 
ping exterior,  not  because  of 
the  house  itself,  with  its  muted  shades 
of  brown  and  black,  but  because  of 
the  amount  of  land  it  occupies. 

Situated  in  a  cozy  neighbourhood 
of  elite  Rosedale  memsions,  the  presi- 
dential home,  unlike  surrounding 
houses,  has  an  enormous  front  lawn, 
which  descends  into  a  grove.  Bright 
flowers  and  small  trees  dot  the  lush 
field  in  the  summer;  a  visual  feast  of 
colour. 

The  interior  is  more  predictable. 
Large,  stately  rooms  are  tastefully 
decorated  in  elegant  patterns  each 
with  its  own  theme:  a  rose-patterned 
sun  room,  for  example,  leads  into  a 
dark  wood-paneled  study. 

This  is  where  U  of  T  President  Da- 
vid Naylor  resides,  where  he  holds  a 
lot  of  his  meetings  and  where  he  sat 
down  with  me  to  discuss  his  first  year 
as  president. 

It  has  been  an  interesting  year  for 
a  man  who  has  been  involved  with  U 
of  T  in  one  capacity  or  another  for  al- 
most twenty  years. 

After  receiving  his  MD  from  U  of 
T  in  1978,  Naylor  earned  the  Rhodes 
scholarship  and  went  to  study  social 
policy  and  administration  at  Oxford, 
where  he  met  his  wife,  Use  Treur- 
nicht,  a  fellow  Rhodes  scholar  from 
South  Africa,  now  the  CEO  of  MaRS. 

After  joining  the  Faculty  of  Medi- 
cine in  1987,  Naylor  became  a  power- 
ful force  in  Canadian  health  policy, 
creating  innovative  programs  and  ini- 
tiatives that  have  changed  the  field. 

These  include  a  research  program 
in  clinical  epidemiology  at  Sunny- 
brook  and  the  Institute  for  Clinical 
Evaluative  Sciences  (ICES),  a  non- 
profit healthcare  research  corpora- 
tion. 

ICES  in  particular  sometimes  land- 
ed Naylor  in  hot  water  with  fellow  col- 
leagues and  the  government. 

"One  of  my  favourite  memories  is 
being  pressed  by  the  government  to 
provide  an  estimate  of  the  open-heart 
surgeries  required.  We  gave  our  best 
estimate  but  flagged  it  as  imprecise 
due  to  the  tight  timeline. 

"The  Ministry  of  Health  paid  no 
heed  and  publicly  announced  fund- 
ing in  tens  of  millions  of  dollars.  I 
was  pulled  from  the  audience  and 
made  to  hold  the  other  end  of  a  large 
cardboard  cheque  in  front  of  TV  cam- 
eras. 

"But  when  we  finalized  the  num- 
bers, they  turned  out  to  be  higher 
and  this  did  not  make  the  Ministry 
happy.  That  was  not  a  high  point  in 
my  career." 

Another  interesting  period  was 
2003,  when  Naylor  chaired  the  SARS 
National  Advisory  Committee. 

He  faced  constant  pressure  from 
the  government  and  the  public,  an 
experience  he  refuses  to  talk  about 
even  now. 

Pressure  also  came  from  internal 
sources. 

"I  suffered  from  a  herniated  central 
disc  right  when  I  was  due  to  hand  in 
a  major  report.  I  typed  most  of  it  on 
my  knees,  with  pillows  thrown  on  the 
floor.  People  would  come  in  and  say 
I  appeared  to  be  praying  in  the  com- 
puter area. 

"There's  no  glamorous  explanation 
for  why  it  happened... .aside  from  ad- 
vancing decrepitude,"  he  joked. 

In  1999,  Naylor  became  Dean  of  the 


Faculty  of  Medicine  and  served  un- 
til 2005,  when  he  was  chosen  as  the 
university's  15th  president. 

At  the  time,  many  felt  that  the  uni- 
versity needed  strong  leadership. 

"Lots  of  the  senior  team  had  jumped 
ship.  U  of  T  wanted  a  capable,  inter- 
nal leader  who  could  fill  a  big  vacuum 
in  the  administration,"  explained  Paul 
Bretscher,  VP  External  of  SAC. 

October  1  marks  the  end  of  Naylor's 
freshman  year. 

Small  is  beautiful 

His  primary  focus  was  improving  and 
enhancing  the  student  experience, 
with  an  emphasis  on  areas  such  as 
the  co-curricular  experience  and  stu- 
dent activity  space. 

Modest  progress  has  been  made 
on  the  latter.  A  special  task  force  re- 
viewed student  activity  space  on  all 
three  campuses,  and  several  plans 
and  designs  have  been  studied.  Nay- 
lor has  also  begun  work  on  raising 
funds. 

Other  areas  such  as  curricular  ex- 
perience are  more  contentious. 

"I'd  love  to  see  smaller  classes.  I'd 
like  to  see  him  actually  do  something 
about  it,"  said  Coralie  D'Souza,  un- 
dergraduate representative  on  the 
Governing  Council. 

The  issue  of  large  classes  arose  af- 
ter Naylor  visited  classrooms  across 
U  of  T's  campuses  during  his  first 
week  as  president,  a  move  that  some 
dismissed  as  nothing  but  a  "brilliant 
PR  stunt." 

Whatever  his  motivation,  Naylor  be- 
came determined  to  introduce  more 
personalized  learning  opportunities 
and  smaller  classes,  along  the  lines 
of  Vic  One — a  first-year  program  at 
Victoria  College  where  students  are 
placed  in  a  class  of  25. 


"My  problem  with  this  is  smaller, 
exclusive  courses  take  teaching  time 
and  resources  from  other  courses,  so 
the  result  is  larger  classes  anyway," 
said  ASSU  president,  Noaman  All. 

"A  small  class  like  Vic  One  gives 
students  trappings  of  elitism.  Rather, 
we  should  offer  more  tenure  track  po- 
sitions to  qualified  instructors." 

Another  way  Naylor  has  tackled 
the  student  experience  problem 
is  through  the  Student  Experience 
Fund. 

The  fund  is  designed  to  support 
initiatives  that  enhance  the  student 
experience.  But  many  thought  the 
submitted  proposals  had  too  little 
student  input,  while  others  felt  there 
was  too  little  money  relative  to  the  U 
of  T  budget. 

Money  problems  extend  beyond 
the  student  experience  and  into  tu- 
ition fees — the  most  high-profile  is- 
sue the  university  deals  with  each 
year. 

Naylor  has  advocated  the  deregu- 
lation of  tuition  fees,  meaning  the 
provincial  government  can't  cap  or 
freeze  fees. 

"Tuition  revenue  becomes  redis- 
tribution rather  than  pure  revenue, 
because  it  is  used  for  bursaries,"  he 
stated.  "Our  needs-based  bursary 
program  runs  potentially  in  the  red. 
We  would  use  tuition  revenue  to  re- 
store it  to  stability.  So  freezing  tuition 
is  not  the  great  thing  it's  made  out  to 
be." 

Student  organizations  on  the  other 
hand  have  campaigned  to  continue 
freezing  tuition. 

"Higher  tuition  only  improves  [the 
student  experience]  for  those  who 
can  afford  it.  It's  one  thing  to  make 
U  of  T  a  world-class  university,  but  if 
only  world-class  students  can  afford 


it,  you're  disadvantaging  world-class 
students  who  can't,"  said  Ali. 

Stepping  forward 

It's  probably  a  good  thing  Naylor  has 
dealt  with  public  dissent  before.  The 
experience  no  doubt  came  in  handy 
during  the  most  caustic  period  of  his 
first  year:  the  racist  incidents  of  early 
2006  that  came  to  be  nicknamed  "Is- 
lamophobia." 

"That  was  not  the  lowest  stress 
period  for  us.  There  was  a  sense  that 
we  had  lost  some  of  our  civility.  It  was 
viscerally  upsetting,"  he  admitted. 

Naylor  and  the  administration  were 
criticized  for  being  slow  to  address 
the  incidents,  for  not  responding  with 
as  much  forcefulness  as  they  had  to 
earlier  discrimination  issues  and  for 
not  doing  more  to  rid  the  administra- 
tion itself  of  racial  intolerance. 

He  eventually  presented  a  speech 
to  the  Governing  Council  condemn- 
ing the  incidents,  much  to  the  relief  of 
students  on  campus. 

He  finds  the  other  criticisms  ridicu- 
lous and  upsetting. 

When  asked  about  them,  Naylor's 
normally  placid  expression  changed 
into  a  frown  and  he  spoke  more  halt- 
ingly, as  if  choosing  his  words  care- 
fully 

"Those  comments  are  easy  to 
make  and  hard  to  prove.  Our  faculty 
are  hired  from  an  array  of  time  peri- 
ods. Of  course  they  won't  represent 
the  GTA  exactly  as  it  exists  in  2006. 
Saying  that's  an  indication  of  racism 
strikes  me  as  radically  irrational." 

In  general  though,  his  handling  of 
the  Islamophobia  situation  met  with 
approval. 

In  fact,  David  Naylor  seems  to  elicit 
positive  feedback  from  even  his  most 
vocal  critics.  He  knows  how  to  come 


out  of  almost  any  situation,  no  mat- 
ter how  controversial,  smelling  like 
roses. 

The  secret  to  his  success  lies  in  a 
congenial  temperament  that  avers 
a  talent  for  anticipating  the  needs 
and  wants  of  the  U  of  T  community. 
He  constantly  displays  a  seemingly 
ingenuous  desire  to  make  the  univer- 
sity a  better  place. 

That's  not  to  say  there  isn't  room 
for  improvement. 

Many  students  want  Naylor  and  the 
administration  to  find  ways  to  engage 
apathetic  students  in  the  university 
community,  whether  by  improving 
the  classroom  experience,  providing 
more  student  aid,  or  simply  working 
with  more  student  organizations. 

Some  want  to  see  more  effective 
student  representation  as  a  means 
of  improving  the  student  experience. 
SAC  wants  to  see  Naylor's  continued 
support  for  the  new  student  centre 
and  a  return  to  freezing  tuition  fees. 

Naylor  himself  plans  to  "stay  the 
course."  For  him,  that  means  recruit- 
ing new  faculty,  expanding  graduate 
enrolment  and  continuing  to  working 
on  the  student  centre,  an  "intensifica- 
tion" of  what  has  already  been  done 
this  year. 

Among  his  favourite  moments  are 
meeting  political  figures,  attending 
classes  in  his  first  week  and  going  to 
convocation,  despite  the  "risk  of  re- 
petitive strain  injury  from  shaking  so 
many  hands." 

Not  surprisingly,  he  considers  the 
Israeli  Apartheid  Week  and  subse- 
quent Islamophobia  incidents  to  be 
the  most  difficult. 

"I  really  enjoyed  this  year.  I'm  deal- 
ing with  some  of  the  smartest  young 
people  in  the  country.  That's  hugely 
appealing." 


1 0  THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  28, 2006 


VARSITY  SCIENCE 


science@thevarsity.ca 


//SCIENCE  IN  BRIEFl 


Fighting  for  a  nuclear  cure 


Flying  with  four  wings 

Paleobiologist  Nick  Longrich  has  re- 
cently challenged  the  idea  that  birds 
began  flying  by  taking  off  from  the 
ground,  suggesting  instead  that  birds 
descended  from  arboreal  gliders, 
■'similar  to  modern  flying  squirrels." 
Having  examined  Archaeopteryx  lith- 
ographica  fossils,  a  dinosaur  from  the 
Jurassic  period,  Longrich  concluded 
that  the  dinosaur's  leg  feathers  had 
an  aerodynamic  structure  that  im- 
plied their  use  as  "winglets."  Although 
scientists  had  immediately  noticed 
feather-like  structures  on  the  hind 
limbs  when  the  first  fossil  of  Archae- 
opteryx lithographica  was  discovered 
in  1861,  they  were  regarded  as  insulat- 
ing body  feathers.  It  wasn't  until  2002, 
when  several  four-winged  dinosaurs 
were  discovered  in  China,  that  re- 
searchers began  to  reconsider  their 
interpretation  of  these  structures. 

"1  believe.. .that  people  tend  to  see 
what  they  want  or  expect  to  see,"  ar- 
gued Longrich.  "Everybody  knows 
that  birds  don't  have  four  wings,  so 
we  overlooked  them." 
Source:  Paleobiology 
— ABIGAIL  SLINGER 

Flesh-eating  bacteria  go 
vegan 

Scientists  have  discovered  a  gene  in 
flesh-eating  bacteria,  of  a  group  called 
Streptococcus,  which  helps  bacteria 
evade  the  body's  defenses.  When  the 
bacteria  express  the  gene  successful- 
ly, they  are  able  to  degrade  a  critical 
intermediate  involved  in  the  human 
immune  response,  thereby  hijacking 
the  body's  main  defense.  By  injecting 
mice  with  a  Streptococcus  strain  that 
were  genetically  deficient  in  this  gene, 
researchers  found  that  white  blood 
cells  were  recruited  to  fight  bacteria  at 
the  site  of  infection.  These  mice  devel- 
oped small  lesions  that  healed  while 
mice  infected  with  the  virulent  strain 
developed  lesions  that  expanded  un- 
til they  died.  Although  such  a  flesh- 
eating  disease  in  humans  is  typically 
rare,  it  is  extremely  fatal,  killing  30  per 
cent  of  those  infected  and  leaving  the 
rest  disfigured. 

Source:  Howard  Hughes  Medical 
Institute  news  service 
— JENNIFER  HUEN 

Finger  Food  to  the  Rescue 

A  new  meal  service  at  Rush  University 
Medical  Center  is  aimed  at  geriatric 
psychiatry  patients,  many  of  whom 
find  it  difficult  to  feed  themselves  the 
regular  portions  served.  The  service 
highlights  user-friendly  foods  like 
later  tots,  chicken  nuggets,  quartered 
hamburgers,  and  soup  in  a  cup  that 
are  delivered  to  the  suite  in  bulk  so 
that  patients  can  create  their  own 
portion  sizes  and  eat  (almost)  inde- 
pendently. Patients  with  Alzheimer's 
disease  or  clinical  depression  find  the 
smaller  tid-bits  less  overwhelming 
and  easier  to  access.  Being  well  into 
the  academic  year,  perhaps  a  user- 
friendly  meal  service  will  benefit  the 
over-worked  and  hungry  students 
here  at  U  of  T. 

Source:  Rush  University  Medical  Cen- 
ter news  service 
— J.H. 


Mayce  Al-Sukhni 


The  thought  of  medicine  mixing  with 
radioactivity  may  not  leave  you  with 
the  best  feeling  in  your  stomach,  but 
researchers  at  U  of  T  are  doing  just 
that,  using  radioactive  particles  to 
develop  novel  advances  in  the  field  of 
therapeutic  medicine. 

Professor  Raymond  Reilly,  the 
principal  investigator  at  the  Lab  of 
Molecular  Imaging  and  Targeted  Ra- 
diotherapeutics  (LMIR)  in  the  faculty 
of  pharmacy,  focuses  on  using  radia- 
tion-emitting pharmaceuticals  (radio- 
pharmaceuticals) to  detect  and  treat 
cancers. 

"[Radiopharmaceuticals]  are  much 
more  focused  and  biologically-tar- 
geted than  external  radiation,"  Reilly 
explained.  Radiation  has  been  used  in 
the  treatment  of  cancer  for  over  a  cen- 
tury, but  radiopharmaceuticals  offer 
more  effective  treatment  possibilities. 

One  part  of  Reilly's  research  deals 
with  Trastuzumab  (sold  as  Herceptin), 
an  expensive  new  drug  for  breast  can- 
cer that  costs  about  $50,000  ayear.  The 
problem  with  Herceptin  is  that  not  all 
patients  respond  to  it,  a  discovery  to 
be  made  only  after  paying  thousands 
of  dollars  for  a  treatment  that  does  not 
even  touch  the  tumour. 

Reilly  is  developing  radio-labeled 
Herceptin — the  same  drug  but  at- 
tached to  a  radioisotope  that  can  be 
detected  on  a  scan — so  that  he  can 
track  the  drug  to  see  if  it  will  reach  the 
tumour.  If  Herceptin  successfully  tar- 
gets cancer  in  a  certain  patient,  then 
Herceptin  treatment  may  also  be  effec- 
tive. If  it  doesn't  work,  other  treatment 
options  can  be  investigated  for  that 
patient. 

"Treatment  and  diagnostics  are  on  a 


Professor  Raymond  Reilly  shows  off  his  gamma  counter,  a  machine  that  measures  radiation  emitted  by  a  radioisotope. 


continuum,"  Reilly  said.  "A  diagnostic 
imaging  radiopharmaceutical  can  be 
used  for  treatment  by  changing  the 
isotope  or  by  increasing  the  dose." 

Reilly  has  gone  from  words  to  action. 
He  is  working  on  a  radio-labeled  form 
of  Herceptin  for  treatment  of  breeist 
cancer  tumours,  turning  a  tracking 
device  into  a  more  effective  drug.  This 
drug  would  target  tumours  in  two  ap- 
proaches: the  growth-inhibiting  prop- 
erties of  the  basic  drug  (Herceptin) 
and  the  cell-killing  properties  of  the 
radioisotope   label.   In  preliminary 


findings,  the  radio-labeled  Herceptin 
is  more  effective  at  suppressing  and 
destroying  breast  cancer  cells  in  labo- 
ratory cell  cultures  than  its  non-radio- 
labeled  counterpart. 

Perhaps  one  of  LMIR's  biggest  suc- 
cesses is  the  development  of  a  radio- 
pharmaceutical currently  in  clinical 
trials.  This  novel  drug  is  based  on  a 
normal  hormone  system  that  cancer 
cells  are  particularly  sensitive  to.  Epi- 
dermal growth  factor  (EGF)  is  a  hor- 
mone that  normally  stimulates  cells 
to  grow  and  divide.  Like  all  hormonal 


systems,  the  body  regularly  needs  to 
shut  off  the  growth  signal  as  part  of 
its  everyday  cycle.  In  order  for  this  to 
happen,  EGF  must  be  directly  taken 
into  the  cell  and  degraded.  Reilly  has 
found  that  coupling  an  EGF  molecule 
to  a  radioisotope  that  emits  very  short- 
range  electrons  is  lethal  to  cells.  When 
the  molecule  is  pulled  into  a  cell  for 
routine  degradation,  the  attached  ra- 
dioisotope emits  its  electrons  and  kills 
the  cell  from  within. 

SEE  'NUCLEAR'  -  ON  NEXT  PAGE 


Cells  may  ride  the  quantum  wave 


Amidst  a  panorama  of  laboratory  equipment,  Dr.  Valentyn  Prokhorenko,  of  the  Institute  for  Optical  Sciences,  buries  himesif  in  the  study  of  quantum  mechanics. 


George  Sebastien 


Despite  centuries  of  meticulous  ex- 
perimental work,  everyone  from  the 
science  undergrad  to  the  Nobel  lau- 
reate still  struggles  to  come  to  grips 
with  the  confusing  and  often  coun- 
ter-intuitive implications  of  quantum 
theory. 

This  complex  giant  of  contempo- 
rary physics  stipulates  that  all  mat- 
ter has  both  a  solid  particle  nature 
and  a  wave  nature.  That  something 
as  small  as  a  cell  may  have  already 
mastered  the  intricacies  of  the  theo- 
ry is  humbling  experience  for  U  of  T 
researchers  on  the  forefront  of  quan- 
tum mechanics  and  biochemistry. 

In  a  recent  study,  researchers  at 
the  Institute  for  Optical  Sciences 
reported  that  they  had  successfully 


switched  a  key  molecule  in  bacteri- 
orhodopsin  (bR) — a  photosynthetic 
pigment  found  in  some  types  of  bac- 
teria— between  two  of  its  forms  by 
manipulating  the  basic  wave  proper- 
ties of  matter.  The  retinol  molecule 
in  bR  plays  an  important  role  in  bac- 
terial photosynthesis  and  its  deriva- 
tives are  essential  to  the  human  eye. 

The  changes  in  retinol  were  in- 
duced using  light  pulses  that  pro- 
vided small  amounts  of  energy,  too 
weak  to  break  or  reform  any  of  the 
molecular  bonds,  but  strong  enough 
to  disrupt  the  'quantum  coherence' 
of  the  molecule.  These  disruptions 
in  the  'waviness'  of  the  molecule 
consistently  produced  the  same 
result:  the  molecule  switched  back 
and  forth  from  its  all-trans'  form  to 
a  '13-cis'  form  rather  than  the  mul- 


titude of  other  forms  it  could  have 
adopted. 

Surprisingly,  the  two  forms  are 
exactly  the  same  ones  observed  in 
many  animal  cells.  Andrea  Nagy,  a 
Ph.D.  student  involved  in  the  proj- 
ect, explained  how  the  light  pulses 
only  affected  a  specific  atomic  bond 
on  the  entire  molecule,  causing  it  to 
"stretch  like  chewing  gum"  before 
rotating  into  a  different  position. 

The  low  levels  of  energy  used 
by  the  researchers  were  similar  to 
levels  available  to  biological  cells, 
suggesting  that  cells  may  modify 
enzymes  and  proteins  by  upsetting 
their  quantum  coherence. 

For  Dr.  Valentyn  Prokhorenko,  a 
research  assistant  in  the  group,  this 
could  be  a  result  of  evolution,  mean- 
ing even  primitive  cells  have  been 


using  quantum  mechanics  for  their 
own  purposes  long  before  scientists 
came  on  the  scene. 

Changing  molecules  between  its 
different  forms  is  a  vital  process 
both  in  industry  and  nature.  Optical 
data  storage,  for  example,  uses  the 
computer  language  of  ones  and  ze- 
ros to  store  information  on  different 
forms  of  a  molecule. 

"Several  companies  are  already 
working  on  producing  such  devic- 
es," said  Nagy. 

The  researchers  hope  to  see 
whether  other  kinds  of  rhodopsin, 
like  those  in  visual  systems,  can  be 
changed  in  the  same  way. 

"The  major  motivation  of  mine," 
said  Prokhorenko,  "[to  continue 
with  this  work  is]  to  understand... 
how  smart  creation  on  Earth  is." 


science@thevarsity.ca 


//RETRO  REVIEW 


The  sexual  evolution 

Checkmate,  a  computer  dating 
service,  launched  a  personal- 
ity survey  at  the  university 
populace  in  the  "605  in  The  Varsity's 
pages.  In  its  advert,  the  organization 
talked  to  religious  leaders,  psycholo- 
gists, and  social  workers  to  refine  a 
system  of  computer  match-ups  that 
left  nothing  to  chance. 

"With  Checkmate's  highly  refined 
mathematical  system  and  the  high- 
speed computer,  it's  just  a  matter  of 
days  until  you  are  matched  with  your 
first  ideal  date,"  boasted  the  orga- 
nization. The  system  was  touted  as 
"more  scientific"  than  conventional 
"hit  and  miss  dating"  university  stu- 
dents often  resorted  to. 
Soxace:  September  26,  1966 


VARSITY  SCIENCE 


T 


en  years  later.  The  Varsity  re- 
ported on  a  protest  against 
the  closing  of  a  free  clinic  that 


treated  venereal  diseases  and  as- 
sisted with  family  planning.  The 
Hassle-Free  Clinic  treated  4,000  cas- 
es of  venereal  disease  a  year  on  a 
budget  of  $50,000.  The  health  issue 
of  the  day  was  "swine  flue,"  a  dis- 
ease that  received  8  million  of  the 
provincial  government's  dollars  and 
affected  200  people  by  that  time. 
The  demonstration  criticized  the 
government's  focus  on  "politically 
sexy  issues"  like  swine  flu  rather 
than  issues  of  the  "here  and  now." 
Source:  September  13,  1976 

By  the  80s,  Depo  Provera,  a 
new  contraceptive,  was  be- 
ing hotly  debated  among 
health  experts  and  women's  groups 
throughout  Canada.  Discussions  in 
Toronto  surrounding  the  impending 
approval  of  the  drug  were  described 
as  "closed-door"  and  a  "sham."  The 


•NUCLEAR'  -  CONTINUED  FROM  LAST  PAGE 

"This  is  like  the  Trojan  horse  legend, 
but  in  a  radiopharmaceutical  context," 
Reilly  said.  The  group  has  found  that 
breast  cancer  cells,  which  use  more 
EGF  than  normeil  cells,  are  particularly 
sensitive  to  the  radio-labeled  EGF. 

Appropriately  enough,  in  order  to 
administer  any  investigational  drugs 
to  patients,  Reilly  must  receive  ap- 
proval not  only  from  Health  Canada 
but  also  from  the  Canadian  Nuclear 
Scifety  Commission. 

"One  of  the  things  about  nuclear 
medicine  is  that  it  is  not  very  well- 
known,"  he  said.  "The  big  difference 
[between]  military  use  of  radioactivity 
and  medical  use  of  radioactivity  is  that 
we  use  radioisotopes  that  are  much 
shorter-lived,  so  we  don't  have  issues 
of  nuclear  waste." 

Radioisotopes  in  medicine  have  a 
maximum  half-life — the  time  it  takes 
for  the  quantity  to  degrade  to  half  of  its 
original  value — of  several  days  to  one 
week.  Some  exceptionally  short-lived 
species  of  radioisotopes  in  the  field 
are  the  positron-emitters  whose  half- 


lives  range  from  mere  minutes  to  a  few 
hours.  This  translates  into  essentially 
indiscernible  levels  of  radiation  after  a 
few  days. 

"Another  general  thing  is  that  a  lot  of 
people  are  cautious  about  radioactiv- 
ity because  we  are  capable  of  measur- 
ing it  very  easily  and  so  we  are  more 
aware  of  it  as  a  hazard,"  added  Reilly. 
For  researchers,  the  fact  that  radioac- 
tivity can  be  measured  acutely  means 
that  it  can  be  contained  more  easily. 
(The  same  cannot  be  said  for  other  en- 
vironmental hazards,  like  greenhouse 
gas  emissions,  where  atmospheric  lev- 
els cannot  be  determined  to  a  precise 
degree.) 

The  field  of  nuclear  medicine  is  a 
growing  one  and  will  be  increasingly 
important  in  the  general  pharmaceuti- 
cal industry.  Reilly  hopes  to  improve 
the  treatment  other  types  of  cancers 
by  developing  more  targeted  thera- 
pies in  the  near  future. 

"At  some  point,  we  hope  that  we 
won't  be  using  the  same  chemothera- 
py drugs  that  we  have  been  using  for 
the  last  thirty  years,"  Reilly  said.  "We 
really  need  better  treatment." 


OVIR 100  W0Rir-9TUDY 
OPrORTUNITlIf  mil 

Work  on  campus. 

Flexible  hours  to  suit  you. 
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Varsity,  like  many  other  organiza- 
tions, described  the  contraceptive 
"as  good  or  better  than  the  Fill." 
Depo  Provera  was  used  in  80  dif- 
ferent countries  as  a  contraceptive, 
and  in  Canada,  had  been  approved 
for  treatment  for  other  conditions, 
like  cancer,  since  the  ^60s.  It  wasn't 
until  2004  that  the  detrimental  ef- 
fects of  Depo  Provera — bone  densi- 
ty losses  and  breast  cancer  risks,  to 
name  a  few — were  recognized  and  a 
black  box  warning  was  attached  to 
Depo  Provera. 
Source:  September  22,  1986 
— SANDY HUEN 


THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  28, 2006   1 1 

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1 2  THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  28, 2006 


VARSITY  A&E 


review@thevarsity.ca 


Listen  Up! 

JORDAN  BIMM,  LUKE  HIGGINSON,  and  SAMIR  SIDDIQUI  have  the  word  on  what's  just  dropped 


The  Dears  -  Gang  of  bsers  (Maple  Music) 

Montreal  indie-rockers  The  Dears  have  always  shown  a  lot 
of  potential.  Earlier  singles  like  "End  of  a  Hollywood  Bedtime 
Story"  and  "Lost  in  the  Plot"  are  good  songs  that  hinted  at 
something  more  impressive.  But  now,  after  three  years  of 
waiting,  and  watching  them  receive  a  bunch  of  hype  from 
their  long  list  of  more  successful  musical  friends,  we  get  Gang 
of  Losers,  a  disappointing  collection  of  meandering,  mid-tem- 
po songs  that  finds  the  band  shedding  almost  everything  that 
was  ever  interesting  about  them.  The  sound  is  polished  and 
radio-ready,  but  singer  Murray  Lightburn  hasn't  written  any 
decent  songs  to  back  it.  While  there  are  some  nice  moments 
throughout  the  album,  nothing  gels  into  a  single  standout 
track.  The  lyrics  also  disappoint,  usually  coming  off  as  con- 
trived or  ridiculous.  "Everyone  is  almost  done  with  me,"  Lightburn  sings  on  "Ticket  to  Immortality."  He's 
right,  and  this  album  should  finish  the  job.  — L.H. 

Rating:  VWW 


Anagram /The  Creeping  Nobodies  -  i^  " 5/?//^ 
(Dead  Astronaut/Blocks) 

This  vinyl  and  digital-only  split  EP  is  a  collaborative  release 
between  Toronto  imprint  Dead  Astronaut  Records  and  the 
always-eclectic  Blocks  Recording  Club.  Sporting  simple,  yet 
attractive  handmade  packaging,  the  record  offers  four  new 
songs  from  the  militant  wing  of  Toronto's  indie-rock  scene.  Side 
A  features  two  new  songs  from  agro-indie-punks  The  Creep- 
ing Nobodies.  In  step  with  their  manic  live  show,  the  first  track 
"Sacrosanction"  alternates  between  soothing  female  vocals 
over  a  hypnotizing  bass  riff  and  frantic  guitars  that  shake  and 
shimmer  through  loads  of  reverb  and  distortion.  On  "Psychic 
Weapons"  the  Nobodies'  frontman  Derek  Westerholm  gruffly 
stakes  out  his  belief  in  government-sanctioned  mind  control, 
and  describes  its  use  on  civilians  and  enemies  during  a  future  time  of  wan  Whispered  verses  give  way  to 
feverish,  paranoid  choruses  which  build  into  a  breathless  finale.  On  side  B,  belligerent  post-punk  fanatics 
Anagram  offer  up  two  tracks  that  didn't  make  it  on  to  their  acclaimed  January  debut  After  Dark.  Devoid  of 
the  signature  saxophone  accompaniment  from  their  album,  reclusive  singer  Matt  Mason  still  speaks  and 
screams  his  brooding,  confessional  lyrics  with  reckless  abandon.  The  second  track,  "Manic  Indulgence," 
tells  the  story  of  a  pointless  after-hours  bar  fight,  and  is  easily  the  stronger  of  the  two.  — ^J.B. 


TV  on  the  Radio  -  Return  to  Cookie  Mountain  (Interscope)   Rating:  VWW 


New  York  City's  coolest  industrial-blues  outfit  TV  on  the  Radio 
have  their  roots  firmly  planted  in  experimental  electronic  mu- 
sic. While  2002's  OK  Calculator  (yes  it's  a  Radiohead  nod)  was 
more  on  the  abstract  side  of  things,  2004's  Desperate  Youth, 
Blood  Thirsty  Babes  brought  them  critical  acclaim  and  con- 
tained their  first  masterpiece,  "Staring  at  the  Sun".  Return  to 
Cookie  Mountain  sees  TVOTR  continue  in  their  quest  to  com- 
bine cacophonic  percussion  with  haunting  voceil  loops  and 
innovative  synthesizer  lines.  They  also  make  a  bid  for  the  in- 
die-rock dance  floor  with  the  instant  hit  "Wolf  Like  Me"  (which 
sounds  more  like  a  Bloc  Party  single  than  anything  off  of  OK 
Calculator).  Other  highlights  include  the  atmospheric  guitar 
work  on  "Province"  and  the  syncopated  drum  programming 
on  the  industrial-meets-orchestral  opener  "1  was  a  Lover."  — ^J.B. 


Rating:  VWW 


jacksoul-m)^ou/(Sony) 


In  his  ongoing  mission  to  sleep  with  your  mom,  jacksoul  lays 
down  his  glossy  reinterpretations  smooth  and  easy.  There's 
no  doubt  the  guy  has  musical  chops — it's  just  what  he  choos- 
es to  use  this  talent  to  accomplish  that  makes  for  trouble. 
The  first  problem  is  the  title,  mySoul,  which  is  inappropriate 
considering  that  this  is  an  album  of  other  people's  music.  An- 
other bold  misstep  sees  him  covering  "Been  Caught  Stealing" 
by  Jane's  Addiction  and  "High  and  Dry"  by  Radiohead.  While 
not  quite  as  bad  a  Bedouin  Soundclash's  "New  Year's  Day" 
massacre,  these  two  tracks  are  still  seriously  embarrassing  to 
listen  to,  and  almost  work  as  comedy.  Hearing  jacksoul  main 
man  Haydain  Neale  scat  all  over  Perry  Farrell's  outsider  an- 
them makes  me  think  that  this  musical  shoplifter  should  be 
prosecuted.  As  for  Radiohead,  1  seriously  hope  their  label  just  slipped  this  shameful  Seal-esque  abortion 
past  them,  I  can't  see  Thom  Yorke  agreeing  to  allow  this  kind  of  tripe  out  into  the  world.  While  your  parents 
might  love  this  disc  for  Christmas,  its  artistic  merit  is  nearly  zero.  mySoul  is  jacksoul  jacking  off.  — ^I.B. 


Rating:  VWW 


Lupe  Fiasco  -  Lupe  Fiasco's  Food  &  UquorikWdntic) 


When  Lupe's  unfinished  album  leaked  online  several  months 
before  the  late  June  release,  many  felt  that  he  would  be  hard- 
pressed  to  improve  on  what  was  already  being  hailed  as  a 
classic.  But  Lupe  comes  back  even  stronger  on  the  finished 
project,  rapping  over  an  album  that's  musically  fascinating. 
Food  &  Liquor  takes  the  approach  of  a  film  score,  each  beat 
fitting  in  perfectly  with  the  themes  and  ideas  presented.  From 
the  dramatic  "Intro"  to  the  shout-out  filled  "Outro,"  this  debut 
offering  makes  few  mistakes,  relying  heavily  on  Lupe's  lyri- 
cally sharp  rhymes  like,  "The  books  that  take  you  to  heaven 
to  let  you  meet  the  lord  there/Have  become  misinterpreted 
reasons  for  warfare."  In-house  producer  Prolyfic  outshines 
contemporaries  Kanye  West  and  Pharrell  as  he  contributes 
his  services  to  the  high-energy  track  "Just  Might  Be  OK,"  the  gritty  Jay-Z  collab  "Pressure,"  and  "American 
Terrorist."  The  passion  Lupe  Fiasco  brings  to  his  work  is  unmatched,  and  the  only  thing  more  intriguing 
than  this  near-perfect  showing  is  the  prospect  that  this  24-year-old  MC  from  Chicago  can  do  even  better. 
— S^. 


//CRITIC'S  PICK 


■  Uncut  -  D/lodem  Cunencies  (Paper  Bag) 


If- 


ODER 


Modern  Currencies,  the  second  full-length 
from  Toronto  techno-turned-rock  quartet 
Uncut,  begins  with  "Dark  Horse,"  an  awesome 
and  infectious  evolution  from  their  previous 
work.  Driven  by  bendy  Jay  Mascus-style  gui- 
tar solos,  they  sound  more  instep  with  Bro- 
ken Social  Scene  than  Joy  Division  on  this 
anthemic  opener.  While  their  last  record, 
Those  Who  Were  Hung  Hang  Here  was  one 
of  2004's  best,  Uncut  has  refused  to  use  the 
easy  recipe  of  retracing  their  past  success. 
Drawing  on  everj^hing  from  the  shoegazer 
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^HH^^^^W  sounds  of  Swervedriver  and  The  Jesus  and 
Mary  Chain  (especially  on  "Kiss  Me"),  as  well  as  more  modern  noisemakers  like  former  tour 
mates  Read  Yellow  and  Trail  of  Dead  (which  is  evident  on  full-out  rocker  "Out  of  Sight")  helps 
keep  their  sound  fresh.  At  their  lyrical  best  when  founder  Ian  Worang  (who  is  about  to  start 
moonlighting  on  bass  with  the  Diableros)  is  on  vocal  duty.  Modern  Currencies  also  features 
strong  singing  by  guitarist  Sam  Goldberg  and  bassist  Derek  Tokar  on  roughly  half  of  the  12 
tracks.  "Hideaway"  sees  Goldberg  presiding  over  some  hyper  hi-hats,  killer  Thunderbird  bass 
work,  and  soaring  guitars  during  an  intensely  awesome  instrumental  pre-chorus  near  the 
song's  beginning.  This  gives  way  to  some  eerie  atmospheric  backing  vocals  from  former  Hole 
bassist  Melissa  Auf  Der  Maur  that  are  reminiscent  of  "Loveblind"  by  Secret  Shine,  or  Loveless 
era  My  Bloody  Valentine.  Another  highlight  is  "Chain  Fight,"  which  offers  up  some  fantasti- 
cally frantic  twinkling  guitar  picking  that  creates  the  catchiest  verse  on  the  record.  Despite 
the  obvious  sonic  growth  between  albums,  fans  of  Those  Who  Were  Hung  will  be  pleased 
that  tracks  like  "Never  Say  Never,"  (which  sounds  like  "Buried  with  Friends"  on  Valium)  and 
"Minus  One"  (which  sounds  kinda  like  "Evil"  by  Interpol,  but  on  speed)  are  far  from  unfamiliar 
territory.  Production  by  drummer  Jon  Drew  (Paper  Bag's  unofficial  "Producer  on  Record;" 
he's  twisted  the  knobs  for  label-mates  Magneta  Lane,  Cities  in  Dust,  and  Toyko  Police  Club)  is 
of  his  usual  high  caliber,  highlighting  thick  and  unique  drum  sounds,  deep  and  driving  bass 
lines,  and  razor-sharp  guitar  melodies.  While  nothing  on  this  record  clearly  trumps  their  pre- 
vious highs  of  "Taken  in  Sleep"  or  "Day  Breaks  Red  Light"  Modern  Currencies  is  one  of  the 
year's  best,  and  makes  for  the  perfect  fall  and  early  winter  soundtrack.  — ^J.B. 

Rating:  VWW 


Rating:  VWW 


Feview@thevarsity.ca 


VARSITY  ARTS  &  ENTERTAINMENT 


THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  28, 2006   1 3 


Night  lights 


All-night  art  show  Nuit  Blanche  takes  over  Toronto  this  Saturday 


Jordan  Bimm 

ARTS  EDITOR 


The  idea  sounds  like  Halloween  for  hipsters: 
hold  an  all-free,  all-night,  city-wide  art  show  in 
as  many  venues  as  possible — the  weirder  and 
more  unlikely  the  blend,  the  better.  Thanks  in 
part  to  the  city's  Live  With  Culture  campaign, 
Nuit  Blanche,  which  has  been  a  hit  in  Montreal 
and  in  Europe  for  years,  is  coming  to  Toronto 
this  weekend. 

From  sunset  on  Saturday  September  30,  un- 
til sunrise  on  Sunday  morning,  Toronto  will  be 
teeming  with  art  installations,  exhibits  and  per- 
formances of  all  shapes  and  sizes.  There  are  lit- 
erally hundreds  of  events  planned  in  every  kind 
of  space  you  can  imagine:  your  typical  museums 
and  galleries  will  be  open  overnight,  but  you'll 
also  find  parties  at  swimming  pools,  sound  in- 
stallations in  parks,  even  a  film  screening  in  a 
carwash.  It's  events  like  these  that  make  living 
in  a  huge  and  often  alienating  metropolis  fun 
again. 

You  might  start  the  night  by  taking  in  a  projec- 
tion by  world-renowned  artist  and  Torontonian 
Michael  Snow.  His  2006  piece  CountingSheep  will 
be  cast  onto  the  dome  of  the  McLaughlin  Plan- 
etarium at  the  ROM.  From  there  it's  only  a  short 
walk  to  Yorkville,  where  you'll  find  a  screening 
entitled  /  am  Curious,  which  includes  a  live  feed 
element  and  is  a  collaboration  between  Toronto 
artist  Annette  Mangaard  and  cultural  historian 
Ihor  Holubizky  from  Brisbane.  Just  north  of 
there,  at  Villiage  of  Yorkville  Park  off  is  where 
to  head  if  you're  feeling  a  little  famished.  That's 
where  Rob  Benner  will  be  holding  his  Maize  Bar- 
bacoa,  a  corn-roast  installation  complete  with 
hot  food  and  a  performance. 

For  action  on  campus,  be  sure  to  check  out 
the  trippy  Fog  in  Toronto  #71624  by  Japan's  Fu- 
jiko  Nakaya,  which  will  slowly  drift  across  the 
Philosopher's  Walk  all  night  long.  Those  geared 
more  toward  avant-piety  can  make  their  way 
to  Hold  That  Thought  Kelly  Mark's  neon  exhibit 
taking  place  at  the  Church  of  the  Redeemer  on 
BloorWest. 

If  you're  looking  for  an  interesting  way  to  com- 
mute through  all  the  different  sights  and  sounds, 
consider  hitching  a  ride  on  the  Toronto  Perfor- 
mance Transit  System.  In  no  way  related  to  the 
TTC,  the  TPTS  is  essentially  a  vehicle  that  will 
whisk  you  from  their  central  station  at  Stephanie 
and  John  St.  to  events  located  all  over  the  area. 
Stops  on  the  route  include  Trinity-Bellwoods 
Park,  Lisgar  and  Queen,  St.  Patrick  and  Queen, 
College  and  University,  and  Yorkville  and  Avenue 
Road.  Make  your  way  to  Queen  West's  Theatre 
Centre  for  the  inside  scoop  on  Toronto's  condo 
explosion.  Part  art  exhibit,  part  social  science 
class,  Condo  Boom  promises  to  get  to  the  bottom 


Fujiko  Nakaya's  fo^will  drift  across  U  of  T's  Philosopher's  Walk  this  Saturday  nightw 


of  these  skyscrapers'  impact  on  our  homes  and 
neighbourhoods. 

If  all  the  action  gets  you  hot  and  sweaty,  better 
head  to  Night  Swim,  an  all-night  swimming  party 
modeled  after  ancient  Roman  baths,  which  (in 
their  day)  were  both  a  medium  for  fierce  social 
debate  and  a  destination  for  opulent  pleasure 
and  relaxation.  The  swim  social  will  be  held  at 
Trinity  Community  Recreation  Centre  and  will 
feature  hourly  sets  by  DJs  and  other  sound  art- 
ists. The  stellar  lineup  includes  Sickness  DJs, 
Polmo  Polpo,  Ghislain  Poirier  and  Tim  Hecker,  to 
name  but  a  few.  Towels  are  being  provided,  but 
please,  bring  your  own  bathing  suit! 

So  drink  that  caffeine-loaded  "energy"  drink, 
take  those  truck-driver  wake-up  pills,  or  maybe 
even  get  a  good  night's  sleep  beforehand.  Just  do 
whatever  it  takes  to  stay  awake  to  explore  this 
unique  and  enlightening  night-time  event. 


scotiabank  nuit  blanche 


"Cheapest  &  Best 
oStudentBarin  Toronto" 

student  Travel  Guide,  London,  UK 
March  2000 


422  College  St.,  E  of  Bothurst 
Open  4pm  to  2am  everyday 


/  an  all-night 

contemporary  art  festival 

let's  spend  the  night  together 

Saturday,  September  30 
7  p.m.  -  7  a.m. 

From  dusk  'tii  dawn,  the  University  of  Toronto  will  be  transformed  into  an  avenue  of  the 
arts  with  nocturnal  installations,  performance-based  art,  musical  encounters,  poetry, 
drama,  film  and  more.  Three  campus  art  galleries  will  also  be  open  throughout  tlie 
night.  Poetry  slams  at  the  School  of  Continuing  Studies,  blanket  architecture  at 
Hart  House,  and  many  more  events  to  feed  the  soul  and  expand  the  mind. 

For  a  full  event  listing  visit  www.arts.utoronto.ca 

Events  are  free.  ^it^ 


I  his  U  ot  r  event  is  made  possible  through  support  from  the  Ottice  of  the 
Vice-Preoidc-nt  and  Provost.  Itio  U  of  T  Arts  Council,  and  our  participating  patiners 


^  UNIVERSITY 
of  TORONTO 


14  THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  28, 2006 


VARSITY  SPORTS 


sports@thevarsity.ca 


Ravens,  Bengals,  and  Bears — oh  my! 

JONAS  SIEGEL  picks  the  winners  in  three  of  this  weekend's  most  anticipated  games 


San  Diego  at  Baltimore 

With  Phillip  Rivers  coming  into  his  own  at  quarterback,  the 
Chargers  head  to  Baltimore  to  take  on  the  undefeated  Ravens 
this  week  in  a  pivotal  game  for  both  teams. 

The  Chargers  have  pummelled  their  two  opponents  so  far 
with  a  combined  score  of  67-7.  But  remember,  those  offensive 
masterpieces  came  up  against  the  sordid  defences  of  the  lowly 
Raiders  and  Titans,  no  better  this  year  than  last  year  when 
the  teams  had  rankings  of  27th  and  19th  overall,  respectively. 
Rivers  has  been  strong  so  far,  completing  71  per  cent  of  his 
passes,  but  he  has  yet  to  face  a  defence  like  the  Ravens'.  Middle 
linebacker  and  two-time  defensive  player  of  the  year  Ray  Lewis 
is  back  to  his  old  self,  cmd  so  are  the  Ravens  defence.  With  the 
second  overall  defence  so  far  this  year,  the  team  conjures  up 
memories  of  the  one  that  carried  Baltimore  to  a  Super  Bowl 
victory  in  2000.  Plus,  the  D  is  getting  some  extra  help  this  year 
from  linebacker  Bart  Scott,  who  is  quietly  leading  the  league  in 
sacks  with  five,  already  surpassing  his  total  of  four  last  year. 

1  predict  this  game  will  be  the  first  hiccup  in  River's  young 
career,  as  he  will  falter  facing  a  physical  D  in  Baltimore.  Ravens 
QB  Steve  McNair's  experience  should  be  enough  against  the 
Chargers,  who  hold  the  best  defence  in  the  NFL  statistically, 
and  lead  Baltimore  to  a  close  victory. 


New  England  at  Cincinnati 

After  a  statement  game  against  Pittsburgh  last  week,  the 
Bengals  host  the  Patriots  in  a  super  AFC  tilt.  Cincinnati  QB 
Carson  Palmer  was  up  and  down  all  day  against  the  Steel- 
ers  throwing  for  four  touchdowns,  but  getting  intercepted 
twice.  Wideout  T.J.  Houshmandzadeh  was  spectacular 
though,  catching  9  balls  for  94  yards,  with  two  highlight- 
reel  grabs  in  the  endzone. 

New  England  comes  off  of  a  disappointing  showing 
against  Denver  last  week,  where  they  were  held  to  just  7 
points,  with  running  back  Corey  Dillon  leaving  the  game  in 
the  first  quarter  with  an  arm  injury.  The  Patriots'  depleted 
receiving  core  has  Super  Bowl  MVP  QB  Tom  Brady  starting 
to  look  a  little  uneasy.  Brady  will  need  to  get  some  help 
from  off-season  acquisition  WR  Doug  Gabriel  and  rookie 
running  back  Laurence  Maroney  if  the  Patriots  have  any 
hope  of  taking  down  the  Bengals. 

Meanwhile,  the  way  Cincinnati  has  quietly  and  confident- 
ly gone  about  their  business  this  season  has  them  lurking 
as  a  potential  roadblock  for  the  Colts  at  the  end  of  the  year. 
Cincinnati  will  tally  a  sure-handed  victory  against  a  hurting 
Patriots  team,  dropping  New  England  to  2-2. 


Seattle  at  Chicago 

In  what  may  be  the  best  game  this  year,  the  Seahawks  travel  to 
Soldier  Field  in  Chicago  to  take  on  the  Bears.  The  Bears  look  like 
they  might  be  the  class  of  the  NFC  with  the  offence  finally  chug- 
ging along  to  ride  up  front  with  its  fabulous  defence.  After  looking 
like  one  of  the  game's  best  in  his  first  two  games  this  year  (38 
for  53,  with  5  TDs),  QB  Rex  Grossman  came  back  to  earth  a  bit 
last  week  against  Minnesota.  The  former  Gator  threw  two  picks 
against  the  Vikings,  but  rebounded  in  the  end  with  a  TD  pass 
that  put  the  Bears  on  top.  WR  Mushin  Mohammad  was  awesome 
(9  catches  for  118  yards)  for  a  Bears  passing  game  that  is  finally 
getting  some  recognition  after  constantly  playing  second  fiddle 
to  the  rushing  attack.  The  Seahawks  were  dealt  a  huge  blow 
earlier  this  week,  learning  that  RB  Shaun  Alexander  will  be  out 
three  weeks  with  a  broken  foot.  Alexander  has  struggled  this 
season  regardless,  mainly  due  to  the  departure  of  guard  Steve 
Hutchison,  who  was  a  huge  factor  in  Alexander  winning  the  MVP 
trophy  last  year.  The  Seattle  offence  still  had  no  trouble  scor- 
ing last  week  against  the  Giants,  where  they  put  up  35  first  half 
points  in  a  42-30.  But  losing  Alexander  is  devastating,  and  his 
loss  will  make  a  terrific  offence  one-dimensioncil.  That  will  cost 
the  Seahawks  the  chance  at  the  win. 

Last  week:  3-0.  Season  to  date:  5-2. 


Individuality  the  culprit  in  U.S.  teams'  demise 

From  their  latest  loss  at  the  Ryder  Cup  to  their  bronze  finish  at  the  World  Basketball  Championship, 
JAMIE  MCCALLUM  explores  the  reasons  for  the  failure  of  American  athletes  to  come  together 


Rudy  Tomjonovich  once  said  of  his  Hous- 
ton Rockets,  "Never  underestimate  the 
heart  of  a  champion."  The  quote  reso- 
nates especially  clear  alongside  the  Europe- 
ans in  their  latest  Ryder  Cup  victory. 

The  team,  headed  by  Darren  Clarke,  Sergio 
Garcia  and  Colin  Montgomerie,  completed  an- 
other lopsided  European  win  over  the  United 
States  with  the  score  18.5  to  9.5  this  past  Sun- 
day afternoon  at  Straffan,  Ireland.  The  final  tab 
was  exactly  the  same  as  the  last  Ryder  Cup 
two  years  ago,  which  was  then  on  U.S.  soil. 

The  clear  drubbing,  with  the  Europeans 
winning  the  five  sessions,  including  the  his- 
torically U.S.  domain  of  Sunday's  Singles, 
made  Europe  the  winner  of  five  of  the  last  six 
cups,  including  the  last  three.  If  it  were  not  for 
a  historic  and  unprecedented  comeback  by 
the  U.S.  in  1999,  due  to  their  stellar  single  play 
that  Sunday,  Europe's  streak  would  now  be  at 
six  in  a  row. 

Even  more  demoralizing  for  the  U.S.  is  that, 
while  it  boasts  the  top  three  golfing  talents  in 
the  world  in  Tiger  Woods,  Phil  Mickelson,  and 
Jim  Furyk,  Europe  still  thrashed  the  U.S.  early 
in  the  competition,  making  Sunday's  singles 
competition  a  mere  formality. 

It  was  clear  from  the  first  tee  ball  that  the 
Europeans  were  looser,  more  relaxed,  and 
more  "into  it"  than  the  U.S.  The  Europeans 
play  the  Ryder  Cup  like  the  Americans  play 
majors:  with  passion,  focus,  and  heart.  Con- 
versely, the  Americans  play  the  Ryder  Cup 
like  it's  a  two  dollar  skins  game — with  disin- 
terest and  aloofness. 

This  difference  between  the  U.S.  and  the 
world  is  seen  elsewhere  than  on  the  green. 
On  the  hard-court,  Greece  (absent  of  any  NBA 


players)  beat  the  likes  of  Carmelo  Anthony, 
Chris  Bosh,  Lebron  James,  and  Dwayne  Wade 
at  the  World  Basketball  Championships  this 
summer,  displaying  a  much  higher  level  of 
team  chemistry,  camaraderie,  and  once  again, 
heart.  They  came  together  as  a  team  in  the 
same  fashion  as  the  Europeans  come  together 
for  the  Ryder  Cup.  Why  does  the  clearly  more 
talented  U.S.  squad  fail  in  the  Ryder  Cup,  or 
the  World  Basketball  Championships,  or  most 
international  team  competitions?  Here  are  a 
few  theories: 

The  U.S.  is  grounded  in  the  power  of  the 
individual.  Their  constitution  makes  far  more 
mention  of  individuality  than  collective  pros- 
perity. Economically,  the  wealthy  pay  fewer 


taxes,  so  less  wealth  gets  redistributed.  As 
for  Europe,  it  is  not  uncommon  for  income  tax 
rates  to  flirt  with  the  50  per  cent  mark,  leaving 
more  money  to  be  redistributed  to  those  who 
need  it. 

It  may  seem  silly  to  compare  tax  rates  and 
sporting  outcomes,  but  let's  make  the  analogy 
clearer.  Countries  in  Europe  enjoy  spread- 
ing the  wealth,  believing  that  an  egalitarian 
society  produces  the  best  society.  America 
has  always  been  about  the  freedom  to  pursue 
individual  personal  wealth,  setting  few  limits. 
Could  this  "team-first  mentality"  in  European 
society  help  to  foster  a  team  first  mentality  on 
the  golf  course,  the  hard-court,  or  the  soccer 
pitch?  And  could  this  focus  on  the  individual 


Empty  green:  Despite  three  top-ranked  golfers,  the  U.S.  was  never  competition  for  the  Europeans. 


in  American  society  be  a  hindrance  to  the  per- 
formance of  American  sports  teams?  Perhaps. 
Just  think  of  American  sports  coverage. 

Baseball  coverage  often  fixates  on  home- 
run  tallies — which  player  has  the  most,  which 
record  will  fall.  Golf  focuses  on  the  majors 
and  the  player  of  the  year  race,  while  the  bas- 
ketball media  hinges  on  scoring  leaders  and 
MVPs.  This  is  not  to  say  that  sports  analysts 
in  the  U.S.  don't  talk  about  team  play,  but  the 
emphasis  is  always  on  discussing  individual 
accolades.  Conversely,  in  Europe,  when  ana- 
lysts speak  of  their  football,  it  is  often  with  an 
emphasis  on  the  team  effort.  Also,  notice  how 
well  the  U.S.  does  in  the  Olympics,  which  are 
mostly  individual  efforts.  Now  compare  that 
success  to  American  results  in  international 
team  events  such  as  soccer,  golf,  and  basket- 
ball. Something  doesn't  add  up. 

I  also  believe  that  no  matter  what  the  Ameri- 
cans say,  Europe's  golfers  treasure  the  Ryder 
Cup  more.  The  cup  for  the  Europeans  is  in 
league  with  Master  victories,  and  possibly 
more  important  than  winning  majors.  For  the 
Americans,  they  want  the  glory  of  the  U.S. 
Open  or  a  Masters  to  themselves,  not  to  share 
the  splendour  of  the  Ryder  Cup. 

On  paper,  the  U.S.  should  win  every  Ryder 
Cup,  and  they  should  win  the  gold  medal  game 
whenever  they  hit  the  hard-court.  Instead, 
they  offer  dismal  records  in  both  the  Ryder 
Cup  and  in  international  team  competition. 
What  doesn't  get  shown  on  paper,  the  team 
chemistry  and  overall  heart,  does  go  a  long 
way.  The  passionate  will  for  your  team  to  win 
is  vital.  For  now,  I  think  it  is  safe  to  conclude 
that  when  it  comes  to  success,  Europe  is  the 
ultimate  team  player. 


sports@thevarsity.ca 


Blue  Jays:  buy  or  sell 
Vernon  Wells? 


Jonas  Siegel 

VARSITY  STAFF 


Having  finally  passed  Boston  for  sec- 
ond place  in  the  American  League 
East,  the  Blue  Jays  have  Toronto  bask- 
ing in  joy.  Why,  1  ask?  Is  second  really 
any  better  than  coming  in  third  or  last? 
Why  is  this  city  taking  joy  in  a  season 
by  a  Blue  Jay  team  that  was  suppos- 
edly ready  to  compete? 

Remember,  this  was  supposed  to  be 
the  year  the  Jays  took  the  next  step. 
But  yet  again,  Jay  fans  are  forced  to 
embrace  the  same  misery  that  has 
been  eroding  their  souls  for  years. 
Heading  into  an  off-season  full  of  ques- 
tions, there  is  one  clear-cut  answer 
That  number  one  priority  will  be  the 
re-signing  of  All-Star  Vernon  Wells. 

After  this  season,  Wells  will  be  under 
contract  with  the  Jays  for  one  more 
season,  before  he  can  explore  free 
agency.  Blue  Jays  General  Manager 
J.P.  Ricciardi  has  a  tough  road  ahead, 
especially  considering  he  and  Wells 
don't  exactly  see  eye-to-eye.  Vernon 
has  also  mentioned  in  the  past  that  he 
wouldn't  mind  playing  in  Texas  with 
best  buddy  and  fellow  All-Star  Michael 
Young.  Because  of  this,  Ricciardi  must 
act  swiftly  in  any  decision  he  makes. 

He  must  decide  early  in  negotiations 
whether  a  deal  with  Wells  is  going  to 
be  feasible.  If  not,  he  must  actively  ex- 
plore trading  the  slugger,  and  quick. 
Wells'  market  value  will  dwindle  rap- 
idly the  longer  it  is  unclear  what  team 
he'll  belong  to  and  the  more  public  the 
tension  becomes. 

If  the  Jays  do  in  fact  deal  Wells,  be 
prepared  to  be  disappointed.  Nothing 
the  Jays  can  fetch  in  return  will  be  full 
market  value.  In  fact,  the  Jays  are  un- 
likely to  get  much  in  the  form  of  major 
league-ready  talent.  More  likely,  they 
will  acquire  a  few  young  prized  arms 
and  possibly  a  young  position  player 
of  the  infield  variety. 

Earlier  this  summer,  the  Orioles 
openly  attempted  to  trade  superstar 
shortstop  Miguel  Tejada  and  the  best 
offer  they  received  was  from  the  Los 
Angeles  Angels  of  Anaheim,  which 
included  stud  and  future  ace  Ervin 
Santana  (15-8,  4.43  E.R.A.)  and  young 
shortstop  Erick  Aybar. 

Now,  the  Jays  would  be  ecstatic  if 
they  could  get  a  deal  like  this,  but  Te- 
jada is  under  contract  for  a  few  more 
years  and  Wells  is  not.  This  means 
teams  are  unlikely  to  put  forth  their 
top-rated  prospects  for  someone  who 
could  be  gone  in  a  matter  of  months. 
Which  begs  another  question — if  you 
can't  sign  Wells,  and  the  trade  offers 


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aren't  great,  do  you  hold  on  to  Wells 
until  the  trade  deadline,  dangling  him 
to  a  contender?  Renting  a  player  rarely 
fetches  dividends,  but  it's  something 
Ricciardi  must  consider. 

Ricciardi  must  face  facts:  Wells  has 
absolutely  everything  you  could  want 
in  a  centerfielder.  He  gets  on  base  fre- 
quently, hits  for  power  and  average, 
and  has  a  golden  glove  as  good  as  any 
in  baseball.  Wells  has  also  come  out 
recently  and  said  he  wants  his  future 
to  be  in  Toronto.  I  warn  you  now  to  not 
take  statements  like  that  at  full  value. 
Raptor  fans  can  explain  why.  Air  Can- 
ada, a.k.a.  Vince  Carter,  also  claimed 
that  he  wanted  to  be  a  Raptor,  months 
before  his  self-created  demise  and  ul- 
timate Toronto  exit. 

Without  Wells,  the  Toronto  fran- 
chise would  be  in  trouble,  serious 
trouble.  Every  successful  team  has 
one  player  who  is  the  guy,  who  team- 
mates and  fcuis  look  to,  who  sets  the 
tone  for  each  game  and  delivers  in 
clutch  situations. 

Earlier  this  year,  I  went  to  the  Rogers 
Centre  for  a  game  between  the  Jays 
and  Yankees.  After  a  B.J.  Ryan  blown 
save,  the  score  was  tied  in  the  11th  and 
Wells  was  at  the  dish  facing  future  Hall- 
of-Fame  closer  Mariano  Rivera.  As  Ri- 
vera was  winding  up,  a  fan  behind  me 
screamed  "Come  on  Vernon,  give  us  a 
homer"  Seconds  later,  the  man  deliv- 
ered. Rivera's  pitch  was  in  the  stands 
and  the  Jays  were  swarming  the  field. 
Wells  is  a  player  who  fans  believe  in, 
even  when  the  team  is  doomed  to  a 
successful  second  place  finish. 


VARSITY  SPORTS 


THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  28, 2006   1 5 


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1 6  THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  28, 2006 


VARSITY  COMICS 


The  Varsity 


DOWNTOWN  TORONTO  By  Jason  Kleffer 


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MONDAY,  OCTOBER  2, 2006 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  TORONTO'S  STUOENT  NEWSPAPER  SINCE  1880 


VOL.  CXXVII.NO.II 


i 


MONDAY,  OCTOBER  2,  2006 


VARSITY  NEWS 


news@thevarsity.ca 


HART  HOUSE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  TORONTO 


Your  student  centre! 

West  Entrance, 
Elevator  &  HY 

MIDDAY  MOSIACS 

Oct  4  from  12:00PM  -  1:00PM 
In  the  Music  Room.  Free  Concert! 

Jazz  Thanksgiving 


INTUIT  WEDNESDAYS 

Weekly  commuters  lounge  every  Wednesday  in  the 

East  Common  Room  from  noon  -  1 :30PM 
THIS  WEEK:  Budding  journalists,  broadcasters,  pro- 
duction assistants  and  photographers  are  needed  at 
UofT's  thriving  campus  newspapers  and  radio  station. 
Drop  in  for  coffee  &  cookies,  meet  new  people  and 

find  out  how  you  can  get  involved  on  campus, 
Same  time.  Same  place.  Unlimited  opportunities. 


JAZZ  @  OSCARS 
DAN  BLONDON  QUINTET 

Oct  6th  at  9:00  PM 
In  the  Arbor  Room.  Free!  Licensed! 
This  show  will  be  a  tribute  to  the  Cannonball 
Adderley  Quintet  and  will  feature  some  of  McGII's 
most  talented  musicians. 


INTHE  JUSTINA  M. 
BARNICKE  GALLERY 

Stephen  Andrews:  Selected  works  from  the 
Salah  J.  Bachir  Colleaion. 
This  exhibition  represents  a  vital  cross-section  of 
the  artist's  socially  cor]scious  art  works. 
Runs  until  Oct  9th. 


CIDER  N'  SONG 
AT  HART  HOUSE  FARM 

Saturday  Oct.  /  4th 
Tickets  now  on  sale  at  the  Hall  Porters  Desk 
Early  Bird  Price:  $25  with  bus,  $20  without. 
Enjoy  a  day  at  Hart  House  Farm.  Make  cider,  hike, 
play  baseball  or  soccer,  enjoy  and  musical 
entertainment  and  the  sauna. 
Lunch  and  Dinner  provided. 


For  more  Hart  House 
events  visit 

www.harthouse.ca 

416.978.2452 


dIDesign 

the  architecture  of  ideas,  people  and  places 


A  night  to  remember 


Richmond  Wong  &  Maciej  Jamrozik 

COVER  PHOTOGRAPHY  BY 

Jacqueline  Urbano,  Dan  Epstein 
&  Kara  Dillon 


7:01  p.m.  Nuit  Blanche,  Toronto's 
all-night  art  party,  kicks  off  with 
exhibitions  at  the  ROM  and  vari- 
ous other  sparkling  locales. 

10:05  p.m.  Philosopher's  Walk 
finds  itself  home  to  a  massive 
crowd  attempting  to  navigate  Fu- 
jiko  Nakaya's  fog  installation.  Their 
vision  impaired,  they  emit  loud 
cries  of  amazement  and  joy.  Any- 
one courageous  enough  to  ven- 
ture off  of  the  paved  surface  finds 
their  feet  sinking  in  the  over-trod- 
den grass,  which  quickly  turns 
into  slippery  mud.  The  treacher- 
ous conditions  recall  days  of  wars 
long  gone,  though  curious  merri- 
ment replace  carnage  and  death. 

11:05  p.m.  Countless  crowds  take 
in  Hart  House's  eclectic  art  and 
performances.  A  disco-dancing 
sauna,  complete  with  turntables, 
a  glowing  floor  and  hot,  hot  steam 
makes  partiers  strip  off  their 
fleece  and  do  some  bootyshaking. 

Further  in  the  depths  of  the 
building  lies  the  "Dark  Hart"  ex- 
hibition. This  consists  of  the 
pool  area,  where  a  series  of  eerie 


videos  are  projected,  including 
scenes  from  the  Space  Odyssey 
series.  The  room's  acoustics  leave 
haunting  reminders  of  the  vast- 
ness  of  space. 

5:45  a.m.  Our  bloodshot  eyes 
gape  at  Istvan  Kantor's  Revolution- 
ary Song,  at  Bohemian  Embassy 
(1171  Queen  St.  W.).  A  few  things 
stick  out:  a  grown  man  straddling 
a  rocking  horse,  a  couch  pitched 
on  scaffolding  containing  two  oc- 
cupants, the  skeletal  remains  of 
a  filing  cabinet  engulfed  in  a  con- 
flagration, and  the  man  himself. 
Kantor  stands  resolutely  singing 
along  to  his  revolutionary  music 
video.  Other  objects  are  burned, 
and  when  the  flames  catch  a  sign 
inscribed  "Queen  Street  West" 
one  can  see  that  the  crowd  is 
ready  for  the  word  that  will  send 
them  into  a  frenzied  revolt.  Sadly, 
none  comes. 

6:45  a.m.  By  this  time,  the  scene 
at  Nakaya's  installation  on  Philos- 
opher's Walk  has  changed  from 
a  hysterical  mob  into  a  pleasant 
myriad  of  couples  and  groups  of 
friends  loitering  in  the  fog. 

7:15  a.m.  Nuit  Blanche  bows  to 
the  first  rays  of  daylight. 

Check  out  full  reviews  of  Nuit  Blanctie 
in  this  Jhursday's\l3n\\y! 


//THE  HIGHLIGHTS 


Into  the  Void 

One  could  see  the  windows  at  the  nearby  Holt 
Renfrew  shake  from  the  devastating  thunder  of 
psychedelic  sludge  rock  performed  t)y  the  one-man 
concert  that  was  Ulysses  Castellanos.  Costumed 
in  a  cape  made  from  old  eight-tracks  and  spent 
cassette  ribt)ons,  and  backed  up  by  strobe  lights 
and  a  smoke  machine,  this  double  guitar-wield- 
ing madman  unleashed  a  stream  of  structureless, 
anti-authoritarian  sonic  destruction  thattenorized 
the  stuffy  gentry  stronghold  at  Bay  and  Bloor. 

Bedtime  Tales 

Twenty  authors,  including  Emily  Poht-Weary,  Gem- 
ma Files,  and  Sabrina  Jeeles,  strutted  their  stuff  for 
more  than  50  literary  types  inside  the  Heliconian 
Club  (35  Hazetton  Ave,).  Within  the  dimly  lit  interior 
of  this  Yorkville  historical  site,  audience  members 
were  regaled  with  a  comprehensive  spectmm 
of  tales  spanning  sci-fi,  romance,  comedy  and 
erotica. 

Ballroom  Dancing 

Though  the  promised  ten-year-old  DJs  were  no- 
where to  be  seen  at  23  Grange  Rd.,  this  school 
gymnasium-cum-dance  floor  just  down  the  street 
from  OCAD  was  packed  with  hundreds  of  sweaty 
partygoers  whipping  overhand  pitches  at  one  an- 
other with  the  thousands  of  multi-coloured  balls 
littering  the  floor.  Pandemonium  and  childish  im- 
maturity was  the  name  of  the  game.  Happily,  not  a 
single  eye  was  lost. 


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opinions@thevarsity.ca 


VARSITY  COMMENT 


MONDAY,  OCTOBER  2, 2006  3 


In  defense  of  the  right 


Our  Ottawa  correspondent  says  that  Harper's  program  cuts  and  debt  payments  will 
increase  efficiency,  save  money,  and  garner  more  funds  for  future  social  services. 
What  do  you  think? 


Lisa  Anthony 

SPECIAL  TO  THE  VARSITY 


Admitting  to  being  a  Conservative  sup- 
porter is  like  coming  out  of  tlie  closet. 
You  don't  know  how  people  will  react, 
and  you're  afraid  some  might  look  at 
you  differently  once  they  know. 

I  was  particularly  silent  about  my 
political  views  during  my  undergrad 
at  U  of  T,  afraid  to  be  Tory-bashed  in 
class  by  both  students  and  professors 
alike.  1  had  always  sided  with  the  Con- 
servatives, but  was  never  fully  into  the 
hot  political  debates  since  1  believed 
that  we,  the  public,  never  knew  the 
whole  story  behind  each  issue.  Now  I 
know  for  a  fact  that  this  is  true. 

Within  a  week  of  beginning  my  in- 
ternship in  a  Conservative  MP's  office 
on  Parliament  Hill,  I  had  learned  more 
about  politics  than  an  entire  univer- 
sity course  could  offer.  1  attended 
Question  Period  every  day  for  the  first 
week,  and  twice  weekly  1  accompany 
my  MP  to  the  Status  of  Women  Com- 
mittee meetings,  a  committee  where 
political  posturing  often  gets  in  the 
way  of  decision-making. 

This  week  on  Parliament  Hill  has 
been  particularly  interesting  because 
of  the  high-profile  budget  announce- 
ments, which  have  proven  to  be  high- 
ly contentious. 

On  the  surface,  it  seems  that  the 
Conservative  government  is  cutting 
social  programs  despite  the  large 
budget  surplus.  Critics  are  asking  how 
this  makes  sense,  and  why  the  gov- 


ernment is  targeting  programs  that 
support  literacy,  the  status  of  women, 
and  minority  groups.  The  media  has 
also  done  a  good  job  of  taking  a  one- 
sided stance  on  the  issue  and  stress- 
ing the  loss  of  the  social  programs 
themselves.  This  focus  is  not  entirely 
accurate. 

The  Conservatives  claim  that  these 
are  administrative  cuts,  and  that  they 
are  implementing  the  auditor  gener- 
al's recommendations  on  where  to 
save  costs.  Most  of  the  cuts  are  due 
to  a  lack  of  efficiency  in  the  various 
systems,  where  only  30  cents  of  each 
government  dollar  is  actually  being 
used.  Many  programs  are  old  and 
outdated;  they  need  to  be  revitalized, 
or  new  ones  must  be  created  to  take 
their  place. 

Bev  Oda,  the  Minister  of  Canadian 
Heritage  and  the  Status  of  Women, 
recently  stated  that  some  buildings 
being  funded  by  the  government  are 
uninhabited,  and  that  rooms  are  even 
being  rented  out.  There  is  no  need  to 
fund  things  that  are  not  being  used. 
The  Tories  want  value  for  money 
spent. 

This  leads  us  to  the  next  critical 
question:  if  the  Tories  have  just  an- 
nounced a  surplus,  why  are  they  us- 
ing it  to  help  pay  off  the  debt  instead 
of  allocating  more  funds  to  social 
programs?  The  answer  is  that  helping 
to  pay  off  the  debt  reduces  the  inter- 
est on  the  debt,  and  this  in  turn  saves 
the  country  money.  By  putting  ap- 
proximately $13  billion  towards  debt 


repayment,  the  government  will  be 
saving  $650  million  in  future  interest 
payments  that  they  can  then  spend 
on  programs. 

Based  on  the  Annual  Financial  Re- 
port of  the  Government  of  Canada 
(available  online),  the  2005-2006  fiscal 
year  saw  fewer  liabilities  and  more  as- 
sets, both  financial  and  non-financial, 
than  the  previous  year.  Paying  off  the 
debt  in  this  situation  meikes  fiscal 
sense.  Cutting  down  the  deficit  will 
benefit  everyone,  and  so  will  making 
sure  that  programs  are  effectively  run 
before  money  is  poured  in. 

Skeptics  will  argue  that  the  Con- 
servative's defense  of  their  budget 
is  deceptive.  They'll  say  that  the  evil 
Harper  will  give  money  to  anti-abor- 
tion groups  and  organizations  that 
oppose  same-sex  marriage.  They'll 
say  that  the  money  that  the  Conser- 
vatives claim  to  be  saving  will  not  be 
used  for  social  programs,  but  will  go 
to  Conservative  friends  in  the  oil  in- 
dustry instead. 

There's  no  guarantee  that  the 
Conservative  promises  will  be  kept, 
of  course.  However,  they  followed 
through  on  daycare  and  the  GST  cut, 
and  are  in  the  process  of  trying  to 
pass  the  Federal  Accountability  Act  in 
order  to  ensure  an  end  to  government 
scandal  and  theft.  Conservatives  want 
a  majority  government  in  the  future, 
and  must  prove  themselves  to  voters 
and  keep  themselves  accountable  to 
all  Canadians.  Instead  of  only  being 
skeptical  of  the  government,  citizens 
should  be  more  critical  of  the  media 
and  the  one-sided  perspective  it  feeds 
to  willing  readers. 


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t  Thousands  of  Satisfied  Students 


Oxford  Seminars 

www.oxfordseiiiinars,coin 


LETTERS 


Fowl  reporting 

Re:  The  woman  who  knew  too 
much?,  Sept.  14 


1  was  planning  on  letting  the  Varsity's 
heavy-handed  article  on  the  supposed 
discrimination  against  Caroline  Xia  go 
without  comment,  but  given  the  foolish 
letters  to  the  editor  in  support  of  the 
article,  1  cannot. 

As  somebody  who  has  spent  hun- 
dreds of  hours  volunteering  at  SAC,  1 
have  seen  my  fair  share  of  Ms.  Xia  in  ac- 
tion (though  I've  seen  suspiciously  little 
of  self-proclaimed  SAC-  and  Xia-expert 
David  Melville).  Though  most  of  Ms. 

//QUOTABLE 


Xia's  behaviour  is  fairly  benign,  1  have 
also  found  her,  at  times,  to  be  quite  un- 
fair in  her  dealings  with  SAC  executives, 
employees,  cind  volunteers.  Ms.  Xia  heis 
seemed  for  years  to  be  quite  eager  to 
make  what  1  know  to  be  largely  bogus 
claims  of  SAC's  supposedly  inequitable 
policies,  proclaiming  people  of  many 
different  races,  creeds,  religions,  and 
sexual  orientations  to  be  deficiently  PC 
in  one  way  or  another 

1  hope  that  most  Varsity  readers  saw 
the  article  on  Ms.  Xia  for  what  it  was:  a 
one-dimensional  piece  of  birdcage  liner. 

Alex  Tepperman 

Campus  Life  Commission  member 


"  [Deporting  Maher  Arar  to  Syria]  was  done  after  there  were  assurances  that 
his  treatment  would  meet  the  standards  of  the  Geneva  Conventions.  We  had 
to  have  a  reasonable  expectation  that  he  was  not  going  to  be  tortured  or 
maltreated.  We  were  able  to  assure  ourselves  of  that." 
Sean  McCormack,  U.S.  State  Department  spokeman 

A  "reasonable  expectation"  from  Syria?  Isn't  that  like  having  a  reasonable  expectation  that  Iran 
will  never  actually  use  its  nuclear  weapons,  or  that  all  North  Korea  wants  is  a  little  loving  atten- 
tion from  the  U.N.?  How  a  regime  likely  involved  in  the  assassination  of  the  former  prime  minister 
of  a  foreign  country  (Lebanon's  Raf  ik  Hariri)  can  assure  anybody  of  their  honourable  intentions 
is  beyond  us.  And  the  fact  that  the  U.S.  happily  accepted  such  assurances  before  deporting  Arar 
raises  (more)  questions  about  America's  level  of  regard  for  any  terror  suspect's  human  rights. 


Graduate  and 
Professional  Schools  Fair 

Over  65  program  representatives 
from  schools  across  North  America 
talk  about  admissions  requirement, 
application  procedures,  and  deadlines. 
Programs  of  study  include: 

•  medicine  •  dentistry 

•  pharmacy  •  education 

•  graduate  school        •  college 

•  business  •  law 

Thursday,  October  5,  2006 
10:30  a.m.-2:30  p.m. 

Career  Centre  and  Bahen  Centre  lobby 
214  College  St.  (St.  George  Campus) 


Career  Centre 


www.careers.utoronto.ca 


VARSITY 

21  Sussex  Avenue,  Suite  306 
Toronto,  ON  M5S 1J6 


Editorial:  Advertising 
(416)946-7600  (416)946-7604 

I  E-mail: 

editor@tlievarsity.ca 


Editor-in-Chief 

Sarah  Barmak 

Production  Manager 

Rogelio  Brisefio 

News  Editor 

Mike  Ghenu 

Photo  Editor 

Kara  Dillon 

Science  Editor 

Sandy  Huen 

Arts  &  Entertainment  Editor 

Jordan  Bimm 


Sports  Editor 

Christophe  Poirier 

Comment  Editor 

J.  P.  Antonacci 

Satellite  Campus  Bureau  Chief 

Gus  Constantinou 

Associate  A&E  Editors 

Jennifer  Fabro 
Chandler  Levack 

Associate  Sports  Editor 

Perry  King 


Associate  News  Editors 

Malcolm  Johnston 
Adnan  Khan 
Josephine  Lee 
Amy  Smithers 
Ben  Spurr 
Kevin  Wong 

Associate  Comment  Editor 

Cam  Vidler 

Associate  Science  Editors 

Mayce  Al-Sukhni 
Mandy  Lo 


Contributors: 

Lisa  Anthony,  Dan  Epstein,  Glen  Fernandes, 
Jennifer  Huen,  Maciej  Jamrozik,  Uenaana  Manek, 
Mark  Mercereau,  Gaurav  Thapa,  Jaqueline  Urbano 


VARSITY  PUBLICATIONS: 


General  Manager 

Johanna  Herman 


Ad  Designer 

Rogelio  Briseno 


4    MONDAY,  OCTOBER  2, 2006 


VARSITY  SCIENCE 


science@thevarsity.ca 


l/ljjlil|iUI)l:l;lld» 

Rigging  up  infrared— for  sex 

Despite  what  popular  teen  flicks  tell  us 
about  sex,  a  study  conducted  by  sci- 
entists at  McGill  University  has  shown 
that  women  respond  to  a  sexual  stimu- 
lus just  as  fast  as  men.  The  experiment 
was  conducted  on  subjects  who  were 
shown  a  variety  of  videos  from  pornog- 
raphy to  Mr.  Bean  episodes,  while  infra- 
red cameras  detected  changes  in  the 
subjects'  body  temperature.  The  meth- 
od, called  thermal  imaging,  measures 
the  amount  of  heat  emitted  from  an 
object,  in  this  case,  the  subject's  body. 
McGill  scientists  advocate  thermal 
imaging  as  a  gauge  for  sexual  arousal 
because  it  is  much  less  invasive  than 
previous  techniques  that  require  geni- 
tal manipulation.  Thermal  imaging  al- 
lows for  a  better  comparison  between 
males  and  females  since  the  measure- 
ments for  both  are  taken  through  the 
same  method.  Both  females  and  males 
showed  arousal  within  30  seconds, 
challenging  the  myth  that  women  are 
slower  to  react  to  sexual  stimuli  than 
men. 

Source:  McGill  University  news  service 
—JENNIFER  HUEN 

Smart  kids  play  fair? 

According  to  a  recent  study,  children 
who  attend  a  public,  inner-city  Montes- 
sori  school  develop  better  social  and 
academic  skills  than  those  attending 
traditional  schools.  The  study  looked 
at  two  groups  of  children  from  similar 
low-income  classes  who  were  random- 
ized through  a  lottery  process  to  at- 
tend either  the  Montessori  school  or 
other  schools  with  more  traditional 
methods.  In  comparing  the  academics 
of  the  two  groups,  the  Montessori  chil- 
dren had  significantly  better  reading 
and  math  skills  and  produced  essays 
that  were  rated  as  "more  creative." 
The  Montessori  students  also  demon- 
strated a  greater  sense  of  justice  and 
fairness  and  were  more  likely  to  engage 
in  emotionally  positive  play  with  peers 
than  act  in  aggressive  and  rough  play. 
The  researchers  plan  to  continue  track- 
ing students  from  both  groups  to  evalu- 
ate the  long-term  effects  of  a  Montes- 
sori versus  a  traditional  education. 
Source:  Science 
— MAYCEAL-SUKHNI 


The  diabetes  doctor 


Glen  Fernandes 


There  are  currently  more  than  two 
million  Canadians  with  diabetes,  and 
by  the  end  of  the  decade,  this  number 
is  expected  to  rise  to  three  million. 
With  a  battery  of  health  professionals 
around  the  world  vigorously  pursuing 
research  in  diabetes  control  and  elim- 
ination, Professor  Thomas  Wolever  of 
the  department  of  nutritional  scienc- 
es is  one  of  U  of  T's  foremost  diabetes 
researchers. 

Though  the  focus  of  Wolever's  re- 
cent research  surrounds  the  glycemic 
index  (GY),  a  measure  of  the  quality 
of  carbohydrates  in  starchy  food,  his 
career  began  with  a  fascination  with 
fibre.  The  "fibre  hypothesis,"  a  theory 
that  attributes  the  cause  of  most  dis- 
eases to  a  lack  of  fibre  in  the  diet,  was 
at  the  crux  of  Wolever's  research  in 
the  early  seventies. 

"[The  fibre  hypothesis]  really 
grabbed  me  because  as  a  medical 
student,  it  seemed  to  me  that  for  most 
of  the  diseases  which  people  suffered 
from,  like  cancer,  heart  disease,  and 
diabetes.. .there  were  no  good  treat- 
ments," said  Wolever.  "If  1  really  want- 
ed to  make  an  impact  as  a  doctor,  then 
this  was  the  area  to  become  involved 
in." 

By  the  mid-seventies,  the  medi- 
cal community  had  generated  many 
theories  about  how  fibre  worked,  but 
little  data.  Wolever,  then  a  master's 
student,  focused  his  research  on  how 
fibre  affects  glucose  absorption  in 
the  intestine.  His  early  paper  turned 
out  to  be  one  of  the  most  highly  cited 
papers  in  the  fibre  field  and  paved  the 
way  for  today's  definitions  of  soluble 
and  insoluble  fibre. 

"It  was  very  exciting  and  romantic. 
I  was  on  the  cutting  edge  of  research 
doing  simple  studies  with  antiquated 
equipment  and  finding  amazing  re- 
sults— it  actually  worked!"  said  Wo- 
lever. 

Despite  his  studies  in  medical 
school,  a  passion  for  research  led  Wo- 
lever to  the  development  of  the  Gl,  a 
measure  of  the  quality  of  starchy  car- 
bohydrate in  foods  like  in  bread,  rice, 


Although  this  array  of  insulin  injections 
is  ready  for  use,  treating  and  preventing 
diabetes  may  soon  be  a  mere  matter  of 
choosing  low-GI  foods. 

and  potatoes.  The  GI  has  broad  impli- 
cations in  health  and  disease,  from 
influencing  our  mood  and  memory  to 
physical  performance.  Since  Wolever's 
definition  of  the  GI,  scientists  have 
shown  that  the  GI  of  dietary  carbohy- 


drates influences  risks  for  diabetes, 
heart  disease,  some  types  of  cancer, 
and  may  be  useful  in  the  management 
of  some  of  these  conditions. 

The  problem  lies  in  measuring  the 
GI  of  food  and  the  lack  of  low-GI  op- 
tions for  food  staples,  like  bread. 

"We  need  to  get  more  evidence  on 
the  health  implications  of  GI,  but  at 
the  same  time,  we  need  more  low-GI 
foods  to  help  obtain  that  evidence," 
said  Wolever 

Wolever's  current  research  in  GI 
falls  under  two  main  categories.  One 
branch  of  research  addresses  the 
problems  in  measuring  GI,  the  fac- 
tors that  influence  the  variation  of 
GI  in  certain  starchy  foods,  and  how 
to  produce  low-GI  foods.  The  other 
branch  focuses  on  proving  that  GI  is 
important  in  preventing  diseases  like 
diabetes. 

But  there  are  very  few  clinical  trials 
showing  that  a  dietary  intervention 
based  on  low-GI  foods  actually  pre- 
vents the  development  of  diabetes.  Of 
today's  prevention  methods,  weight 
loss  and  exercise  have  been  proven 
to  slow  the  progression  of  "pre-dia- 
betes" — a  condition  where  blood  glu- 
cose levels  are  higher  than  normal 
but  not  high  enough  to  be  diagnosed 
as  diabetes — to  diabetes  by  about  60 
per  cent. 

Weight  loss  and  exercise,  accord- 
ing to  Wolever,  isn't  the  solution,  but 
regulating  the  Gl  of  food  may  prevent 
diabetes  or  heart  disease  altogether 
The  only  problem  is  proving  it,  which 
would  involve  mounting  a  massive 
clinical  trial  involving  thousands  of 


//DIABETES  FACTS 


•  Diabetes  mellitus  is  a  chronic  dis- 
ease, caused  by  both  genetics 
and  a  sedentary  lifestyle,  where 
the  body  does  not  react  to  normal 
levels  of  insulin  it  produces. 

•  Though  interchangeably  called 
non-insulin-dependent  diabetes, 
treatment  of  diabetes  mellitus 
often  includes  insulin  injections 
as  well  as  lifestyle  changes. 

•  Diabetes  mellitus  is  a  contributing 
factor  in  the  death  of  approxi- 
mately 41,500  Canadians  each 
year. 

•  An  estimated  45  million  North 
Americans  have  pre-diabetes,  or 
'impaired  glucose  tolerance'  that 
may  develop  over  the  years  into 
diabetes  mellitus. 

•  Diabetes  increases  the  likelihood 
of  heart  disease,  stroke,  kidney 
disease,  blindness,  and  erectile 
dysfunction. 


subjects.  Wolever  has  recently  com- 
pleted a  small  trial  investigating  a  low- 
GI  food  diet  in  over  a  hundred  diabetic 
participants  looking  at  blood  sugar 
levels  and  cardiovascular  disease  risk 
factors. 

In  another  small-scale  study,  Wo- 
lever looked  at  the  effects  of  a  low-GI 
diet  on  reducing  intramyocellular  fat, 
the  type  of  fat  lost  during  weight  loss 
and  the  probable  cause  of  insulin  re- 
sistance. If  these  studies  are  success- 
ful, Wolever  may  soon  have  the  sup- 
port to  conduct  a  larger  study. 

"The  role  of  GI  in  established  dia- 
betes may  move  more  from  being  a 
way  to  improve  [blood  sugar  levels], 
although  it  will  always  help  fine-tune 
that,  to  being  a  way  to  prevent  the 
complications  of  diabetes." 


Participants  Needed!! 

DO  YOU  EXPERIENCE  SOME  OF 
THE  FOLLOWING? 

Feelings  of  sadness 
Difficulty  sleeping 

Loss  of  energy 
Weight  loss/gain 
Difficulty  thinking 

If  so,  you  may  be  eligible  to  participate  in  a  brain  imaging  study  of 
depression  at  the  Centre  for  Addiction  and  Mental  Health. 

The  study  includes  comprehensive  assessment,  non-experimental 
treatment  and  the  option  for  follow-up  care 

Participants  must  be  non  smokers  aged  18-50,  in  good 
health  and  not  currently  taking  any  medication. 
Compensation  provided. 

For  more  information,  please  call:  (416)  535-8501  ext.  4417 


camh 


Centre  for  Addiction  and  Mental  Health 
Centre  de  toxicomanie  el  de  sante  mentale 


Do  you  have 

GMEED  ALLlRvG 


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red,  watery,  itcliy  eyes? 

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I 

Call:  905-629-5777  (ext.  1)  or  Toll  free:  1-888-AKI-5544 
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Regular  hours  of  operation:  Monday  to  Friday;  9am  to  8pm 
Saturday:  9am  to  1pm 


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2  blocks  south  of  Eglinton  Ave 
www.allied-research.com 

ARIisa  contract  research  organization  dedicated  to  the  advancement 
ot  clinical  research.  We  conduct  research  lor  both  healthy  volunteers 
and  those  with  medical  conditions. 


review@thevarsity.ca 


VARSITY  A&E 


MONDAY,  OCTOBER  2, 2006  5 


Pop  goes  the  world 

JT's  bveSounds,  Janet's  latest  malfunction,  and  Fergie's  solo  debut  duke  it  out  in  our  pop  music  showdown 


Mark  Mercereau 


Snap,  crackle,  pop!  This  fall  has  al- 
ready yeilded  a  dizzying  number  of 
new  pop  releases,  let's  see  how  three 
of  the  biggest  stack  up. 
The  already  huge  new  album  from 
Justin  Timberlake,  FutureSex/Love- 
Sounds,  not  only  improves  upon  his 
solo  debut,  but  far  exceeds  a  slew  of 
recent  pop  records  that  even  smirk- 
ing hipsters  wouldn't  be  ashamed 
to  load  on  to  their  iPod.  Much  of  the 
credit  should  go  to  producers  will, 
i.am.  Rick  Rubin  and  Timbaland, 
whose  work  is  featured  on  the  lead 
single  "SexyBack,"  and  who  also 
helped  Nelly  Furtado  land  her  huge 
summer  billboard  smash  "Promiscu- 
ous." Another  standout  is  the  pow- 
erful track  "Losing  My  Way"  while 
"Summer  Love"  and  "Chop  Me  Up" 
make  for  great  driving  tunes.  Per- 
haps JT's  biggest  accomplishment 
on  FutureSex/LoueSounds  is  keep  us 
interested  for  over  an  hour. 

Unable  to  make  that  same  claim  is 
Janet  Jackson,  who's  busy  promot- 
ing her  latest  attempt  at  a  post-Nip- 
plegate  career.  20Y.O.,  which  refers 
to  the  numbers  of  years  since  the 
release  her  epic-length  classic  Con- 
trol, thankfully  clocks  in  at  twenty 
minutes  shorter  Suffering  from  a 
case  of  writer's  block  (or  maybe  its 
"ghost  writer's  block"?)  Janet  offers 
up  a  slew  of  tracks  that  are  light, 
fluffy,  and  blandly  devoid  of  any  sort 
of  consistent  theme  or  topic,  inter- 
spersed with  her  usual  interludes, 
which  refuse  to  say  anything  sub- 
stantial. That  being  said,  the  lead  sin- 
gle "So  Excited,"  which  is  much  more 
catchy  than  the  rest,  along  with  oth- 
er upbeat  tracks  "Show  Me"  and  "Get 
It  Out  Me"  will  keep  the  party  going, 
but  are  also  likely  to  leave  you  crav- 
ing for  some  classic  Janet,  which  is 
much  stronger  in  comparison.  Slow 


jams  "Take  Care"  and  "Love  2  Love" 
are  undeniably  boring  and  serve  as 
obvious  filler  on  this  already  too- 
short  offering.  It's  also  interesting 
to  note  as  well  that  Janet  sounds 
eerily  like  brother  Michael  on  sev- 
eral tracks,  which  she  even  pointed 
out  on  a  recent  Oprah  appearance. 
The  aging  Jackson  then  "performed" 
(read:  "blatantly  lip  synched")  her 
new  single  and  strugged  to  keep  up 
with  her  back-up  dancers.  You're 
better  off  pulling  out  a  copy  of  Velvet 
Rope  or  Rhythm  Nation  from  back  in 
the  day  when  she  could  still  sing,  and 
had  something  to  say. 

Not  normally  known  for  having  a 
myriad  of  deep  ideas  to  impart  on 
her  equally  cerebrally  subdued  audi- 
ence, Black  Eyed  Peas  singer  Fergie 
has  unleashed  her  first  solo  album, 
The  Duchess  with  surprisingly  suc- 
cessful results.  Haters  of  BEP's  "My 
Humps"  beware:  The  Duchess  fea- 
tures plently  of  ridiculous,  yet  catchy 
lyrics  that  remain  inescapably  stuck 
in  your  head  for  days  on  end.  But, 
considering  her  shameless  intent 
to  please  her  fun-loving  followers, 
is  this  really  such  a  crime?  Arguing 
that  a  pop  album  is  too  catchy  is  like 
complaining  that  an  Icelandic  death 
metal  outfit  is  too  loud  and  creepy. 
Fergie's  producers  harness  a  metric 
ton  of  samples  on  this  record,  but  al- 
most all  are  used  tactfully,  and  work 
well  in  creating  a  diverse  and  dynam- 
ic sound.  The  track  "Clumsy"  is  just 
as  addictive  as  first  single  "London 
Bridge,"  as  are  "Mary  Jane  Shoes" 
and  "Glamorous."  Flowing  perfectly, 
Fergie's  debut  is  likely  to  provide  sin- 
gle after  single  for  the  coming  year, 
so  be  prepared — this  diva  turned 
dutchess  is  going  to  rule  the  pop  air- 
waves whether  you  like  it  or  not. 

The  best  bang  for  your  pop  buck:  Justin 
Timberlake's  FutureSex/LoveSounds 


Stacy  Ferguson  (left),  the  new  Duchess  of  pop,  goes  head  to  head  with  Mr.  Timberlake  (above) 


NOTICE  of  REFERENDUM 


The  Students'  Administrative  Council  -  your  students' 
union  -  is  holding  a  referendum  on  the  following  question. 

Are  you  in  favour  of  an  increase  in  the  University  of  Toronto 
Environmental  Resourse  Network  (UTERN)  levy  of  25  cents  per 
session  increase  for  the  Bikechain  services  as  detailed  in  the 

preamble?  (Yes/No) 

Bikechain,  in  partnership  with  the  University  of  Toronto  Environmental  Resource  Network 
(UTERN)  IS  seeking  consent  from  itsmembers  for  an  increase  to  the  existing  SAC  clubs 
fee.  The  proposed  increase  is  25  cents  per  session. 

Bikechain  is  a  student  initiated,  student  run,  bike-repair  facility  located  in  the  basement  of  the 
International  Student  Centre  on  the  St.  George  campus  as  well  as  at  UTM.  Bikechain  has  t>een  in 
operation  for  one  year  and  is  currently  seeking  sustainable  funding  so  it  can  continue  to  offer  free 
bike  repair  andworkshops  to  students. 

This  facility  aids  the  University  of  Toronto  to  be  a  greener  campus  and  makes  bike  repair  affordable  for 
students.  Macleans  and  NOW  Magazine  have  formally  recognized  Bikechain  as  a  great 
environmental  program  in  their  rankings  of  Canadian  Universities.  In  addition,  the  Bikechain  works 
to  engage  students  who  may  not  already  be  biking  -  this  funding,  therefore,  has  great  potential  ,a;,ssy 

to  reach  all  students. 

With  this  levy,  Bikechain  plans  to  be  open  full-time  during  the  summer  supported  by  a  mechanic. 
Since  biking  is  somewhat  seasonal,  summer  funding  is  critical  to  offer  full  support  to  student  cyclists. 
The  funding  will  also  be  used  to  replenish  resources  such  as  grease,  lubricants,  and  other  related  materials 
allowing  Bikechain  to  buy  new  tools  and  replace  old  or  broken  tools.  We  hope  you'll  support  our  proposal, 
which  contributes  to  the  growing  reputation  of  U  of  T  as  a  green  and  engaging  student  campus. 

If  the  increase  is  approved,  the  total  fee  for  the  University  of  Toronto  Environmentatf, 

Resource  Network  and  Bikechain  would  be  50  cents  per  session  and  would  be 
charged  to  all  full  time  undergraduate  students  beginning  in  the  fall  2007  session. 

Q&A  Session  | 

October  4th,  4-6  pm 
Bahen  Centre  Rm  2130 

VOTING 

October  11th  to  13th,  10-6pm 

•  Bahen  Centre  f 

•  University  College  |      i  | 

•  Trinity  College  -  The  Butfery  * 

•  Victoria  College  -  Wymilwood 

•  UTM  South  Building 

For  further  information,  contact  Elections  Committee 
c/o  Chief  Returning  Officer,  cro@sac.utoronto.ca 
12  Hart  House  Circle,  University  of  Toronto 
416-978-4911  x225 

Students'  Administrative  Council 


6   MONDAY,  OCTOBER  2, 2006 


The  Varsity 


Full  speed  ahead. 

We  remove  the  barriers,  so  you  can  accelerate  your  career. 
We've  created  an  environment  that's  conducive  to  personal 
and  professional  growth  and  success.  At  Ernst  &  Young,  we're 
recognized  for  our  inclusive  culture  that  expects  everyone  to 
contribute  and  everyone  to  grow.  Stop  just  long  enough  to  visit 
us  on  campus,  or  at  ey.com/us/careers. 

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VARSITY  SPORTS 


Powering  up  the  top  UEFA  chibs 

From  Chelsea  to  Barcalona  and  Lyon  to  Liverpool,  GAURAVTHAPA  ranks  the  Champions 


1.  Chelsea 

(5-1-1  vs.  Domes- 
tic League/ 2-0-0 
vs.  Champions 
League) 


After  another 
summer  of  big  signings  (swelling 
the  payroll  to  276  million  USD  in 
the  last  three  years),  their  players 
have  now  recovered  from  a  slight 
World  Cup  hangover.  Much  criti- 
cized centre  forward  Didier  Drogba 
is  netting  goals  by  the  bagful  (five 
so  far).  Chelsea  is  setting  the  pace, 
and  a  scalding  one  at  that.  The 
real  scary  part  is  that  the  Chelsea 
express  still  has  to  reach  top  gear. 
(Can  the  real  Andriy  Shevchenko 
please  show  up?) 


2.  Barcelona 

(4-1-0/1-1-0) 

The  new  UNICEF 
logo  adorning 
their  jerseys  is 
enough  to  make 
any  Barca  player 


smile.  But  the  only  smile  that  counts 
is  the  one  that  graces  Ronaldinho. 
After  shrugging  aside  a  disastrous 
World  Cup,  he's  back  ambling  freely 
around  the  pitch  like  no  other.  The 
Brazilian  has  Spain's  top  side  play- 
ing the  neat  one-touch  futbol  that 
won  them  the  Champions  League 
last  season.  But  the  loss  of  striker 
Samuel  Eto'o  may  be  a  bit  much  to 
overcome. 


3.  Lyon 

(7-1-0/2-0-0) 


r  1  H  "No  one  player 
I  J  ^  is  bigger  than 
^tm^Kmmm^  the  team,"  and 
no  team  epito- 
mizes that  state- 
ment more  than  this  French  team 
(much  unlike  their  national  squad). 
While  they  suffer  having  lost  their 
brightest  young  player  for  the  third 
straight  season,  Lyon  somehow 
manages  to  come  out  unfazed. 
Doubters  of  the  team  were  silenced 
after  Lyon's  2-0  demolition  job  over 
Real  Madrid. 


4.  Valencia 

(4-1-0/2-0-0) 

Those  who  caught 
the  Barcelona  vs. 
Valencia  match  this 
season  would  agree 
that  this  team  is  equally  good,  if  not 
better  than,  the  defending  Spanish 
Champions  at  the  moment.  Big  wins 
in  both  their  domestic  league  and  the 
Champions  ensure  this  club's  position 
in  the  top  half  of  the  ranking  table. 

5.  Bayern 
Munich 

(3-1-2/2-0-0) 

Their  prized  play- 
er left  without 
bringing  them  a 
penny  for  his  transfer  (while  he  makes 
130,000  pounds  a  week).  They  fought 
tooth  and  nail  to  retain  Owen  Har- 
greaves,  but  when  all  was  said  and 
done  he  left  and  the  player  received 
in  turn  ended  up  injured.  With  all  the 
drama,  one  would  expect  the  mighty 
Bavarian  club  to  struggle  this  season. 


However,  Bayern's  young  German 
players  seem  to  have  matured  earlier 
than  expected  (the  German  success 
at  the  World  Cup  must  be  highlighted) 
and  the  club  can  dare  to  think  big 
once  again. 


6.  Manchester 
United 

(5-1-1/2-0-0) 


Not  the  power  they 
used  to  be  in  Eng- 
land, but  with  two  very  special  and 
gifted  players  in  Wayne  Rooney  and 
Christian  Ronaldo  turning  22  this 
year,  the  only  way  for  this  club  is  up. 
Doubts  linger  over  whether  they  can 
stay  healthy  for  a  whole  season,  how- 
ever. 


7.  Arsenal 

(3-2-1/2-0-0) 

While  the  new  sta- 
dium's kinks  have 
been  worked  out, 


CONTINUED  ON  NEXT  PAGE 


MONDAY, 


OCTOBER  2, 2006  1 


ROGERS 

Your  World  Right  Now 


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Week  of  September  25  " 

1.  Bossy 

-  Kelts  (feat  Too  Short) 

2.  Crazy 

-  Gnarls  Barkley 

ypKnow  You  See  It  (A  Cappella)  j 

-  Yung  Joe 

.  4. ,    It's  Goin'  Down  (A  Cappella) 

*         ■  Yung  Jot 

5.  London  Bridge  (Chorus) 

-  fergie 

6.  Me  &  U 

!■  ---Cassie 

7.  -'-  Money  Maker  (Pharrell  Chorus) 

J       I  ■  Ludacris  (feat  Pharrell)  j. 

^llln' Me  Back  (Radio  Edit)  f  ^ 

'  - Chingy  FeaTDring  Tymse        '-  i 

jf    Sexy  Back 

^  •  Justin  Timberlake 

10.    Shoulder  Lean  (feat.  T.I.) 

-  Young  Dro 

Enter  to  WIN  a  trip  to  the  2006 

Billboard^  Music  Awards  in  Las  Vegas! 

.  Text  BILLBOARD  To  555  on  your 
phone  to  get  started! 


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Put  your  best  hand  forward  for 
something  more  effetive. 

Women's  Kung  Fu  Club 

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UNIVERSITY  OFTORONTO 

FACULTY  OF  PHYSICAL  EDUCATION  AND  HEALTH 
COUNCIL  OF  ATHLETICS  AND  RECREATION 

NOTICE  OF  BY-ELECTION 
FALL  2006 

NOMINATIONS  ARE  NOW  OPEN 
FOR  THE  FOLLOWING  POSITIONS: 

•  I  Female  Student  Representative 

•  I  Male  Student  Representative 

All  University  of  Toronto  students  who  are  registered  on  the  St.  George 
campus  and  pay  an  Athletic  Centre  fee  are  eligible  to  stand  for  election,  to 
nominate  candiciates  and  to  vote. 

Nominations  close  on  WEDNESDAY.  OCTOBER  ID  at  5  p.m.  and  elections 
v^ill  be  held  on  TUESDAY.  OCTOBER  17  and  WEDNESDAY.  QCTOMRJl, 

The  Council  is  responsible  for  overall  Athletics  and  Recreation  policy 
including:  policy  on  facility  planning  .nnd  rentals;  fees  and  staffing;  allocation 
of  funds  to  program  areas. 

Nomination  forms  are  available  in  the  Main  Office,  Program 

Office,  main  floor  -  Athletic  Centre  or  the 
Chief  Returning  Officer,  Room  2083,  Athletic  Centre. 

Nomination  papers  must  be  filed  at  any  of  these  offices.  Nominations 
received  elsev^here  or  after  that  time  v^^ill  be  invalid. 

For  full  information,  please  contact  the 
Chief  Returning  Officer,  978-2 1 36   


Attention  all  Full-Time  Undergraduate  Students 


NOTiee  OF  ELECTIONS 
FALL  2006  BY-ELECTIONS 

vNivinsirr    of    r  o  ft  o  m  r  0 

students'administrativecouncii 

The  University  of  Toronto  Students'  Admintetratlve  Council 
(SAC)  v/iH  be  hotdmg  Fall  by-elecitons  to  fill  the  following 

seats: 


Board  of  Directors  Constituency 
University  College 


Sea^  Available 
I 


Voting  Pertoci 

Wednesday  October  llttt  to  Friday  October  13th 
am  •6:00  pm 

Voting  Locations 

•  Bahen  Centre 

•  University  College 

•  Trinity  Coltege  -  The  Buttery 

•  Victoria  Coltege  -  \A^milwood 

THIS  BLBCTION  tS  OPEN  ONLY  FOR  UNIVBRSITV 
COLLEGE  STUDENTS 


For  further  informalior.  cont^  Elections  Comrrittee 
c/o  Chief  R©turfMr>Q  Off»cor.  at»4S^sdC  utoft)nto  ca 
12  Hart         Citt^,  Vnhfem^  of  Torof«o 
41$-978-4911  ya2S 

Students'  Administrative  Council 


laDM 

i  tool 


8   MONDAY,  OCTOBER  2, 2006 


sports@thevarsity.ca 


CONTINUED  FROM  LAST  PAGE 

the  Gunners  are  still  out  to  prove 
they  can  play  their  brand  of  futbol 
against  teams  the  likes  of  Manchester 
United  away  at  Old  Trafford.  A  finalist 
in  last  year's  Champions  League,  the 
team  can  no  longer  hide  under  the 
"rebuilding"  excuse.  Arsenal  needs 
to  prove  they  can  compete  on  both 
domestic  and  European  fronts. 


8.  Real  Madrid 

(3-2-0/1-0-1) 

Money     has  been 


spent  like  crazy,  and  the  team  con- 
tinues to  under-perform.  What  else 
is  new?  The  good  news  is  time  will  be 
an  asset  for  the  club,  giving  world- 
class  striker  Ruud  van  Nistelrooy  a 
chance  to  acclimate  and  allowing 
manager  Fabio  Capello  to  aim  for  re- 
alistic goals,  like  working  as  a  team. 


9.  AS  Roma 

(5-4-1  / 1-0-1) 


^^^^^w       Surprise,  sur- 

^^^^        prise — the  club  is 
actually  doing  well! 
All  they  need  now  is  to  keep  Totti 


healthy  and  not  overworked.  Good 
luck. 

10.  Inter  Milan 

(3-2-0/0-0-2) 

Inter  is  still  celebrat- 
ing their  courtroom 
victory  of  the  Scu- 
detto,  but  the  team  must  understand 
the  need  to  perform  outside  Italy. 
The  club  spent  enough  money  to 
field  two  quality  squads,  and  as  the 
record  shows,  that  is  exactly  how 
they  are  performing.  While  they  are 
atop  the  Calcio  Serie  A,  this  is  clear- 


ly not  the  league  packed  with  quality 
of  yesteryear. 


HELP  WANTED 


THERE'S  A  LIFE  ON  THE  LINE.  SHALL 
WE  ASK  THEM  TO  HOLD? 

Distress  Centres  of  Toronto  need  volunteers 
who  can  be  there  24/7  to  answer  the  calls 
of  the  lonely,  distressed  or  suicidal.  We  pro- 
vide comprehensive  training  in  telephone 
support,  crisis  intervention  and  suicide  pre- 
vention. Visit  www.torontodistresscentre. 
com  or  call  — Downtown:  416-598-0166, 
North  York:  416-486-3180,  Scarborough: 
416-439-0744. 

PART  TIME  TECH  SUPPORT  POSITION 

Must  be  outgoing,  willing  to  learn,  have 
excellent  problem  solving  skills,  be  familiar 
with  Windows  clients,  servers,  and  net- 
works. Vehicle  required  for  downtown  and 
GTA  travel.  Email  jobs@asynchronsystems. 
com  or  fax  416-924-9990. 


FOR  SALE 


VINYL  RECORDS  &  CDs 

High  quality,  hand-picked  selec- 
tion. Major  &  minor  musical  genres. 
We  buy  and  sell.  3  minutes  S  of  College 
&  St.  George,  18  Baldwin.  416-979-2822. 
Around  Again  Records. 


CLASSIFIEDS 


MISCELLANEOUS 


LEARN  CHINESE  /  ENGLISH  /  SPANISH  / 
GERMAN /FRENCH 

Job  in  China  is  available  for  our  students. 
Professional  teachers,  flexible  time,  reason- 
able fee,  small  class  and  individual  class 
are  available.  Phone:  416-455-8890;  Email: 
chinesel217@hotmail.com 


TUTORING 


TUTORING  AND  MORE! 

The  Student  Tutoring  Network,  TSTN 
One  on  one  TUTORING  and  ESSAY 
EDITING.  FREE  textbook  and  rental  list- 
ing services.  416-855-9651,  416-990-7506; 
tstn@rogers.com  www.tstn.ca 


EDITING 


ESSAY  WRITING  AND  RESEARCH 

PhD  and  Masters  graduates  to  help  with 
all  subjects.  Specializing  also  in  resumes, 
applications,  and  appeals.  Call  416-960- 
9042.  Email:  customessay@bellnet.ca. 
Online:  customessay.com 


SERVICES 


ESSAY/THESIS  EDITING  EXCELLENCE 

Satisfaction,  originality  and  high  mark 
guaranteed.  Also  resumes  and  grad/ 
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ENGLISH/ESSAY  HELP! 

Flexible  hours.  Reasonable  rates.  Cei'ti- 
fied  teacher  Near  U  of  T  416-568-1646. 


Varsity  Classifieds  cost  $12.00  for  25  words.  ($10.00  each  for  6  or  more  ads.)  Student  rate:  $10.00  for  non-business 
ads.  $0.25  for  eacti  word  after  25.  Rates  include  one  line  (up  to  21  characters  including  spaces)  of  BOLD  type  for 

the  ad  header.  Additional  bold  type  $2.00.  No  copy  changes  after  submission.  Submit  ads  by  mail,  phone,  or  email. 

DEADLINES:  For  Monday  or  Tuesday  issue-Thursday  noon,  for  Thursday  issue-Monday  noon. 
Varsity  Classifieds,  21  Sussex  Avenue,  Toronto,  ON  M5S 1J6.  Inquires:  416-946-7604,  email:  ads@thevarsity.ca 


THIS  WEEK'S  GAMES 

RUGBY  -  Scarborough  Campus 
Women  vs.Yori< 
Fri.  Oct.  6-2  p.m. 
Men  vs.Trent 
Fri.  Oct.  6  -  4  p.m. 

BASEBALL-  Scarborough  Campus 
Blues  vs.  Western 
Sat.  Oct.  7  -  12/2  pf.m. 

FOOTBALL -  Birchmpunt^^ 
Blues  vs. Western 
Sat.  Oct.  7  -  2  p.m. 

SOCCER  -  Birchmount  Stadium 
Women  vs.Trent 
Wed.  Oa.4  -  6  p.m. 
Men  vs.Trent 
Wed.  Oct.  4  -  8  p.m. 

FIELD  HOCKEY  ■  Lamport  Stadium 
Women  vs.  Gueiph 
Wed.  Oct.  4  -  6  p.m. 

FAST  PITCH  -  Birchwood  Park 
Women  v$.Yorl<. 
Fri.  Oct.  6   6/8  p.m 
Women  vs.  Queen's 
Sat.Occ7  -  12/2  p.m 

www.varsityblues.ca 


11.  C  Milan 

(3-2-0/2-1-0) 


They  were  docked 
eight  points  to  start 
the  season,  the  goal 
machine  of  years  past 
is  now  gone,  and  the  back  line  is  as 
old  as  ever.  Still,  this  team  remains 
Italy's  best  hope  for  European  sil- 
verware. That  said,  the  entire  club's 
hopes  lies  squarely  on  the  shoulders 
of  Kaka. 


12.  Liverpool 

(3-1-3  /  1-1-0) 


—     Well,  they  aren't  do- 
ing  well  again  do- 
mestically— but  the  last  time  they 
did  that,  they  won  the  Champions 
League.  Go  figure. 

On  the  bubble: 

PSV  Eindhoven  (4-1-1  /  1-1-0),  CSKA 
Moscow  (  0-0-0  / 1-1-0),  Celtic  (7-1-1  / 
1-1-0),  Lille  (4-3-1  /  0-0-2)  and  Sport- 
ing Lisbon  (0-0-0/1-1-0). 


Come  play  for  our  team 

Write  for  Sports 
sports@thevarsity.ca 


//CORRECTION: 

In  the  article  "Crack,  slash  and  lacrosse"  on  September  18,  we 
reported  that  Adam  Robertson  scored  the  two  goals  in  the  Men's  7-2 
loss  at  Bishops.  The  first  goal  was  in  fact  scored  by  Beau  Basset. 
The  Varsity  regrets  the  error. 


c 

Men's  Hairstyling 

We  are  Professional  in  Old  &  New  Bartering  Techniques 

imiimiH 

"Open  Saturdays" 
56  Wellesley  St.  (at  Bay) 
416-922-8944 

V/5A 

\  ISA  actepled 

MASSIVE  BRAIN 

with  impressive  body  of  work  and 
numerous  international  awards 
enjoys  frequent  publishing  in  top 
journals  and  spending  time  in 
North  America's  third-largest 
research  library.  Seeks  like- 
minded   grad   students  for 

similar  pursuits. 


The  University  of  Toronto  Grad  School  is  now  accepting 
applications  from  top  candidates  flirting  with  the  idea 
of  pursuing  their  grad  studies  here.  We  think  its  a  per- 
fect match.  You're  a  brilliant  U  of  T  undergrad.  We're  an 
irresistible  combination  of  scholarship  and  world- 
renowned  research.  Bur  don't  admire  us  for  our  brains 
alone.  U  of  T  is  that  dynamic  campus  in  this  diverse  city 
you  already  love.  If  you'd  like  to  meet  the  Grad  School, 
ask  your  career  centre  about  the  grad  fair  on  October  5, 
2006.  Or  contact  us  any  time. 

gradschool@sgs .  utoronto.  ca 
www.gradschool.  utoronto.ca 


UNIVERSITY  qf  TORONTO 


theVAKSlTY 


mm 

DAYS  &  THURSDAYS 


THURSDAY,  OCTOBER  5,2006 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  TORONTO'S  STUDENT  NEWSPAPER  SINCE  1880 


www.thevarsity.ca 

VOL.  CXXVII,  NO.  12 


^  WHITE  HEAT:  We  review  all-night 
art  party  Nuit  Blanche  //  p.  8 


How  barrier-free 
is  U  of  T?// p.  4 


Bitter  rivals 


With  undefeated  York  ahead,  the  Blues  are  taking  aim 


Christophe  Poirier 

SPORTS  EDITOR 


Facing  a  battle  against  fellow  division 
heavyweight  York,  Field  Hockey  knows  its 
game  plan:  play  patient,  keep  possession, 
and  take  shots  on  goal.  What  the  team  does 
not  know  is  how  to  keep  the  ball  off  the 
stick  of  OUA  scoring  leader,  York  Lion  Lau- 
ren Conforzi. 


Blues  captain  Malinda  Hapuarachchi  (left)  soaks  in  yesterday's  game  while  nursing  an  injured  right  arm.  Earlier  that  game,  Kirsten  Shire  matches  up  Guelph  keeper 
Jaclyn  Butterworth  before  converting  her  penalty  shot.  The  Blues  tied  the  Gryphons  2-2. 


In  six  games,  Conforzi  has  notched  ten 
goals  and  six  assists.  Attempting  to  contain 
her  will  be  the  main  tactic  for  the  unde- 
feated Blues  (5-0-1)  as  they  try  to  snatch 
away  first  place  from  the  Lions  (6-0-1)  next 
Thursday  at  Lamport  Stadium.  The  unenvi- 
able job  of  keeping  up  with  Conforzi  will  be 
Malinda  Hapuarachchi,  the  Blues"  captain 
and  defensive  stalwart. 

"We  expect  Lauren  to  be  marked  tightly," 
said  York  coach  Deb  Fullerton.  "Our  game 
plan  is  to  press  and  keep  it  a  close  game. 
We  can  only  predict  what  [will]  happen,  but 
keeping  it  close  is  our  best  chance  to  win." 

Fullerton's  desire  to  keep  the  game  close 
is  a  sound  one,  as  the  Blues  have  outscored 
their  opponents  32-3  this  season,  while 
sporting  four  players  in  the  top  ten  in  scor- 
ing. Their  top  forward,  Cailie  O'Hara,  has 
seven  goals,  making  her  the  country's  sec- 
ond most  prolific  attacker. 

"Cailie  is  a  strong  player  for  us,"  Blues 
coach  Beth  Ali  said.  "She's  a  pure  scorer, 
which  you  don't  get  too  often  any  more. 
She's  got  an  incredible  shot,  and  they  come 
in  a  huge  array.  She  shoots  them  all  with 
great  speed  and  at  any  angle." 

Fullerton  agreed  that  O'Hara  was  a  player 
that  the  Lions  must  watch. 

"We  will  have  to  be  careful  about  O'Hara," 
she  said.  "She's  such  a  good  passer  that 
whether  she  scores  is  irrelevant.  Keeping 
her  in  check  is  important  as  she's  the  only 
one  dominant  player  on  the  team." 

While  O'Hara  might  get  all  the  attention, 
fellow  Blues  Heather  Clark  and  Amanda 
and  Shannon  Treacy  round  out  the  Blues 
top  scorer,  and  they  must  contribute  to 

SEE 'RIVALS' -PG  14 


//  FACULTY  OF  ARTS  AND  SCIENCE  COUNCIL  UPDATE 


Rebel  with  a  pause 

Tm  still  fighting  the  man,'  says  acting  council  chair  and  critic  Noaman  Ali 


Mike  Ghenu 

NEWS  EDITOR 


It  is  a  bit  ironic  when  a  constant  critic 
of  "the  man"  gets  to  occupy  the  very 
seat  of  power  he  critiques. 

Yet  that  is  exactly  what  happened 
at  the  first  meeting  of  the  new  coun- 
cil of  the  Faculty  of  Arts  and  Science 
on  Tuesday,  when  Noaman  Ali,  presi- 
dent of  the  Arts  and  Science  Students' 
Union  (ASSU),  was  elected  to  be  act- 
ing chair  of  the  body  for  that  meet- 
ing. 

The  kicker  was  that  Ali,  who  suc- 
cessfully ran  for  a  spot  on  the  faculty 


council,  was  about  to  criticize  how 
the  electoral  process  that  had  pro- 
pelled him  to  that  seat  was  run.  For 
its  first  meeting,  at  least.  Since  13  of 
the  29  faculty  representatives  on  the 
council  had  not  yet  been  elected,  it 
was  decided  at  the  start  that  the  in- 
augural meeting  would  be  run  by  an 
acting  chair. 

The  Faculty  of  Arts  and  Science 
council  considers  and  vets  various 
policies  pertinent  to  the  faculty.  It 
was  set  up  in  1971,  but  until  this  year 
it  wasn't  a  very  lively  body.  That 
was  because  all  800  faculty  mem- 
bers were  eligible  to  vote,  and  even 


though  there  was  some  student  rep- 
resentation, critics  charged  that  fac- 
ulty members  would  simply  round 
up  their  colleagues  to  help  pass  the 
decisions  that  mattered. 

"The  faculty  council  was  a  body 
that  didn't  work.  And  the  student  in- 
volvement was  pretty  modest,"  said 
arts  and  science  dean  Pekka  Sinervo, 
who  took  part  in  the  committee  that 
reworked  its  constitution. 

The  new  constitution,  which  was 
approved  in  June,  trimmed  down  the 
size  of  the  council  to  only  69  voting 

SEE  STUDENT'  -  PG  5 


Part-time  students 
get  a  new  home 


Sana  Ahmed 


It  has  taken  four  months  to  accom- 
plish, but  it  seems  that  the  student 
union  representing  part-time  stu- 
dents on  St.  George  campus  will 
soon  be  moving  into  a  new  home. 

The  Association  of  Part-time  U  of 
T  Students  (APUS)  and  U  of  T's  ad- 
ministration have  come  to  an  agree- 
ment to  relocate  APUS  offices  to 
what  they  hope  to  be  their  perma- 
nent home  in  the  Margaret  Fletcher 
building  at  100  Devonshire  Place, 
across  from  the  Varsity  stadium. 

After  lobbying  since  June,  APUS 
and  U  of  T  agreed  that  the  building 


would  be  a  suitable  location  for  its 
home  because  of  its  close  proxim- 
ity with  Woodsworth  College,  the 
college  for  part-time  students. 

Margaret  Fletcher  was  initially 
home  to  a  daycare  centre,  but  has 
been  largely  empty  since  2003.  And 
although  the  space  in  question  is 
situated  in  a  "central  building,"  the 
university  is  in  the  midst  of  reno- 
vating it  in  order  to  meet  basic  re- 
quirements, according  to  Farrar. 
"APUS  should  be  situated  com- 
fortably in  the  Margaret  Fletcher 
building  within  approximately  two 

SEE 'APUS' -PG  2 


2   THURSDAY,  OCTOBER  5, 2006 


VARSITY  NEWS 


news@thevarsity.ca 


Pissing  contest 

Foreign  policy  discussion  descends  into  'superficial  debate' 


Rehaana  Manek 


"There  won't  be  any  fireworks. 
This  is  going  to  be  more  discussion 
than  debate,"  said  Canada's  former 
ambassador  to  the  U.N.  Paul  Hein- 
becker,  kicking  off  a  talk  on  Cana- 
da's foreign  policy  at  Isabel  Bader 
last  Thursday. 

And  given  the  background  of 
each  of  the  speakers,  the  crowd 
might  have  believed  them  at  first. 
For  both  Heinbecker  and  Senator 
Hugh  Segal  were  former  advisors 
to  Conservative  prime  minister 
Brian  Mulroney  in  the  '80s. 

Heinbecker  was  also  Canada's 
ambassador  the  U.N.  from  2000  to 
2005.  He  is  now  director  of  Lauri- 
er's  Centre  for  Global  Relations, 
Governance  and  Policy. 

Segal,  meanwhile,  was  a  well- 
known  television  pundit  during  the 
'80s  and  '90s.  He  served  as  chief  of 
staff  to  Mulroney  and  was  one  of 
the  main  strategists  for  the  Conser- 
vatives in  the  last  election. 

But  despite  their  past  similari- 
ties, on  matters  of  foreign  policy, 
the  two  men  each  took  a  distinct 
tack. 

"Canadian  foreign  policy  can  fos- 


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ter  conflict,"  argued  Heinbecker, 
"but  it  is  not  now  fostering  con- 
flict." 

"The  world  doesn't  take  us  as  se- 
riously as  we  take  ourselves,"  said 
Segal  in  relation  to  the  discussion 
of  Canada's  influence  in  Washing- 
ton and  the  global  community.  He 
went  on  to  elaborate  by  suggest- 
ing that  the  international  respect 
Canada  enjoys  is  based  on  the  way 
in  which  Canada  handles  its  rela- 
tionship with  its  neighbour  to  the 
south. 

"The  world  doesn't  see  us  as  not 
[being]  serious,"  Heinbecker  re- 
sponded. "They  respect  us  on  how 
we  integrate  and  make  our  own 
independent  foreign  policy  deci- 
sions." 

The  crux  of  the  discussion  cen- 
tred on  the  inimical  debate  on 
whether  the  United  States  holds 
sway  over  Canada's  foreign  policy, 
which  caused  Heinbecker's  fore- 
mentioned  fireworks  to  make  an 
appearance.  The  initial  praise  that 
was  bestowed  by  each  speaker  on 
the  other  quickly  devolved  into 
acerbic  barbs  tossed  back  and 
forth.  The  invasion  of  Iraq  became 
a  main  focal  point. 

"Bumper  stickers  in  World  War 
11  said,  'Stop  the  Nazis,'  and  dur- 


ing the  Korean  war,  'Stop  the  com- 
mies,' but  during  the  Iraq  war  you'd 
need  a  placard  to  say  everything 
about  this  war  [that  was  a  poten- 
tial threat],"  said  Heinbecker. 

"I  suppose  responsibility  to  pro- 
tect doesn't  include  Shiites  and 
Kurds?"  said  Segal,  referring  to  the 
legitimacy  of  the  war  in  Iraq. 

Heinbecker  retorted  that  the  re- 
sponsible actions  Segal  discusses 
should  have  occurred  when  the 
atrocities  against  the  Shiites  and 
Kurds  by  Saddam  Hussein  took 
place  over  a  decade  ago. 

Their  arguments  surveying  Cana- 
dian-U.S.  relations  laid  little  road- 
way in  the  discourse  of  Canadian 
foreign  policy,  often  leaving  the 
audience  to  react  with  both  shock 
and  laughter  at  the  back-and-forth 
jabs. 

"I'd  peg  it  as  a  superficial  debate 
that  could  have  potentially  brought 
out  something  with  depth,"  said 
Aminah  Hanif,  a  second-year  his- 
tory and  political  science  major. 

"It  wasn't  very  serious  judging  by 
the  cliched  arguments  both  sides 
were  making.  [They  were]  just  re- 
inforcing the  audience's  support 
for  one  side  or  another  rather  than 
being  objective  and  offering  [some- 
thing] new." 


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The  Margaret  Fletcher  building,  a  former  childcare  facility,  has  been  largely  unused 
since  2003.  Now,  after  a  summer  of  lobbying  from  the  APUS,  it  is  set  to  become  the 
future  home  for  the  student  union  representing  part-time  U  of  T  students 


■APUS'  -  CONTINUED  FROM  PG  1 

weeks,"  he  said. 

Since  the  summer,  APUS  mem- 
bers have  been  petitioning  and 
lobbying  in  order  to  get  support 
for  their  cause  and  also  to  avoid 
what  they  argued  was  an  eviction 
from  their  current  offices  in  Wood- 
sworth  College. 

Farrar,  however,  did  not  see  the 
APUS's  office  situation  as  an  evic- 
tion. 

hfe  said  that  "from  the  beginning 
we  were  going  to  give  them  an  al- 
ternate location. 

There  was  never  to  any  intent 
to  evict  APUS  from  their  previous 
location,  nor  did  they  ever  receive 
any  language  from  us  that  we  would 
use  that  action." 

APUS  executive  director  Oriel 
Varga,  however,  thought  other- 
wise. 

"Without  telling  us  where  to  relo- 
cate, [the  administration]  came  to 
us  in  March  telling  us  that  we  had 
to  leave  our  Woodsworth  office  by 
the  end  of  the  term.  It  was  an  evic- 
tion." 

This  situation  could  have  been 
solved  more  quickly  according  to 
Dave  Farrar. 

"Since  this  episode  began  about 
six  months  ago,  the  administration 
offered  APUS  two  different  loca- 
tions, both  of  which  APUS  declined 
to  accept." 

These   locations    were   91  St. 


George  St.  and  21  Sussex  Avenue. 
Varga  maintains  that  these  loca- 
tions were  much  smaller  and  APUS 
would  have  been  "just  another  stu- 
dent group." 

Part-time  students  comprise 
about  40  per  cent  of  the  student 
body  at  U  of  T,  according  to  Varga, 
and  they  should  feel  comfortable  in 
the  community. 

Varga  said  that  during  the  dis- 
agreement, APUS  received  tre- 
mendous support  from  the  U  of  T 
student  body  and  the  community- 
at-large. 

"We  have  won  this  battle.  Had 
it  not  been  for  their  support,  we 
would  have  been  forced  to  operate 
from  our  very  tiny  office  at  Sidney 
Smith." 

However,  Dave  Farrar  also  be- 
lieves that  the  part-time  students 
should  feel  like  belong  at  the  U  of 
T. 

"We  do  not  distinguish  between 
part-time  and  full-time  students," 
said  Farrar. 

Although  APUS  representatives 
have  still  not  received  the  keys  to 
their  new  home  at  the  Margaret 
Fletcher  building,  Varga  said  that 
they  have  made  progress  on  the 
issue. 

"Until  now,  we  have  been  getting 
mixed  messages  from  the  admin- 
istration. We  want  some  sort  of 
assurance  that  this  will  remain 
APUS's  permanent  home  for  the 
long  run." 


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UNIVERSITY  TORONTO 


news@thevarsity.ca 


VARSITY  NEWS 


THURSDAY,  OCTOBER  5, 2006 


3 


Bad  guys  beware: 
that  hot  bike 
might  be  bugged 

U  of  T  cops  using  GPS  lure  to  curb  bike  theft 


Kevin  Wong 

VARSITY  STAFF 


Following  in  the  footsteps  of  police 
in  Victoria,  B.C.,  U  of  T's  communi- 
ty cops  are  now  poised  to  nab  bike 
thieves  handlebar-handed. 

In  partnership  with  Toronto's 
Police  Services,  the  Bike  Bait  pilot 
program  will  fit  a  pricey  bike  with  a 
high-tech  global  positioning  device 
somewhere  on  U  of  T's  St.  George 
campus,  in  the  hopes  acting  as  a 
deterrent  and  catching  would-be 
bike  thieves. 

"What  they  do  is  they'll  scope 
out  an  area  before  they  hit  it,  and 
then  they'll  go  and  hit  one  or  two 
bikes.  Sometimes  they  work  alone, 
sometimes  they  work  in  teams"  ex- 
plained Const.  Peter  Franchi,  of  U 
of  T  Police.  Two  or  three  bike  thefts 
are  reported  to  St.  George  campus 
police  each  week. 

You  have  to  be  at  the  right  place 
at  the  right  time"  to  catch  bike 
thieves,  said  Franchi,  the  co-ordi- 
nator  of  the  Bike  Bait  program. 

"With  the  GPS  device  we'll  be 
able  to  track  it  anywhere  it  goes. 

The  program  is  based  on  the 
same  technology  utilized  by  Victo- 


ria, B.C.  police  for  their  own  Bike 
Bait  program  that  has  been  cred- 
ited "with  a  19  per  cent  decrease 
in  bicycle  thefts  within  a  six-month 
period,"  according  to  a  news  re- 
lease by  U  of  T. 

"We  want  to  use  the  program  to 
curb  bike  theft,  but  also  hopefully 
to  catch  the  bad  guy,"  said  Franchi. 

Though  the  pilot  program  is  still 
being  assessed,  plans  are  already 
in  mind  to  take  it  up  a  gear  by  in- 
troducing the  "security  tracking  of 
office  property"  (STOP)  system  for 
bikes  in  October. 

It  is  similar  to  the  laptop  anti- 
theft  registration  system  of  the 
same  name,  in  which  a  metal  plate 
and  chemical  tattoo  are  perma- 
nently stuck  to  a  laptop  at  a  cost  to 
the  user. 

Franchi  said  that  nearly  1,700  U  of 
T  community  members  have  opted 
for  the  anti-theft  laptop  plate. 

Bike  Bait  is  also  similar  in  concept 
to  Bait  Car  programs  used  in  some 
major  cities  in  the  U.S.  and  Canada, 
where  in  some  cases,  would-be  car 
thieves  have  their  engines  cut  and 
their  doors  locked  by  police  who 
control  the  car  remotely,  as  well  as 
being  tracked  via  GPS. 


Bikechain  seeks  levy 


Adeel  Admad 


"Biking  our  way  to  a  greener  future" 
is  how  volunteer  Eliot  Callahan  de- 
scribes Bikechain,  a  student-run 
facility  dedicated  to  repairing  bicy- 
cles and  promoting  cycling  on  cam- 
pus and  at  large. 

After  a  year  in  business,  Bikechain, 
which  was  set  up  as  a  project  of  the 
university's  Sustainability  Office,  is 
asking  for  a  25-cent  levy  per  student 
to  help  with  operational  costs  and 
the  expansion  of  its  services. 

The  spare  change  from  every  stu- 
dent on  St.  George  campus,  howev- 
er, would  add  up  to  about  $16,000  a 
year  in  funding. 

A  referendum  on  the  matter  will 
be  run  by  the  Students'  Administra- 
tive Council  (SAC)  next  week,  on 
Oct.  11-13. 

Bikechain  co-ordinator  Jenny 
Greenop  admits  that  she  worries 
about  the  outcome  of  the  referen- 
dum. However,  she  said  that  Bike- 
chain not  only  has  a  need  and  jus- 
tification for  the  funding,  but  also 
has  widespread  support.  Greenop 
pointed  to  the  5,000  signatures  col- 
lected to  hold  the  referendum. 
"A  lot  of  the  money  is  going  to  be 
going  to  ...  general  facilities  main- 
tenance," Greenop  explained.  With 
the  money,  she  said,  Bikechain  can 
open  full-time,  especially  in  the 
summer,  when  many  more  people 
cycle.  Also  planned  is  hiring  a  co- 
ordinator and  mechanic  on  a  part- 
time  basis. 

Bikechain  is  based  in  the  base- 


Bikechain  founder  Carlene  Thatcher-Martin  fixes  Tovi  Heilbronni's  bike  in  the  group's 
shop,  located  in  the  basement  of  the  international  Student  Centre. 


ment  of  the  International  Student 
Centre,  at  33  St.  George  St..  The  out- 
fit moved  there  this  summer,  into  a 
larger,  more  permanent,  and  cen- 
trally located  space. 

Greenop  estimated  that  between 
10  and  30  students  use  Bikechain 
every  day,  its  services  including 
repairs  of  various  degrees  and  gen- 
eral information  about  cycling  in 
Toronto.  According  to  her,  several 
hundred  students  have  used  Bike- 
chain over  the  last  year. 
"We  would  expect  that . . .  the  num- 
bers would  expand"  with  more  fund- 
ing, said  Callahan. 

On  the  whole,  Bikechain  is  about 


"promoting  sustainable  behaviour 
[to  students] ...  for  their  whole  lives," 
according  to  Callahan.  Both  Gree- 
nop and  Callahan  strongly  disagreed 
with  the  notion  that,  on  the  whole, 
there  are  more  important  matters 
than  repairing  bicycles,  even  as  it 
concerns  the  environment. 

"If  people  can  defer  buying  a  car 
for  a  couple  of  years,"  said  Greenop, 
then  her  larger  goal  will  have  been 
reached.  With  the  clarification  that 
Bikechain  also  teaches  cyclists  to 
repair  their  own  bikes,  she  argued 
that  Bikechain  makes  cycling  a  long- 
term,  viable  mode  of  transportation 
for  those  it  serves. 


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//WHAT  DISABLED  STUDENTS  SEE? 


VARSITY  NEWS 


news@thevarsity,ca 


•i^ — ^  r  COLLEGE  STBEH 


NOTICE  of  REFERENDUM 


The  Students'  Administrative  Council  -  your  students' 
union  -  is  holding  a  referendum  on  the  following  question. 

Are  you  in  favour  of  an  increase  in  the  University  of  Toronto 
Environmental  Resourse  Network  (UTERN)  levy  of  25  cents  per 
session  increase  for  the  Bikechain  services  as  detailed  in  the 

preamble?  (Yes/No) 

Bikechain,  in  partnership  with  the  University  of  Toronto  Etwironmental  Resource  Network 
(UTERN)  is  seeking  consent  from  itsmembers  for  an  increase  to  the  existing  SAC  clubs 
fee.  The  proposed  increase  is  25  cents  per  session. 

Bikechain  is  a  student  initiated,  student  run,  bike-repair  facility  located  in  the  basement  of  the 
International  Student  Centre  on  the  St.  George  campus  as  well  as  at  UTM.  Bikechain  has  been  in 
operation  for  one  year  and  is  currently  seeking  sustainable  funding  so  it  can  continue  to  offer  free 
bike  repair  andworkshops  to  students. 

This  facility  aids  the  University  of  Toronto  to  be  a  greener  campus  and  makes  bike  repair  affordable  for 
students.  Macleans  and  NOW  Magazine  have  formally  recognized  Bikechain  as  a  great 
environmental  program  in  their  rankings  of  Canadian  Universities.  In  addition,  the  Bikechain  works 
to  engage  students  who  may  not  already  be  biking  -  this  funding,  therefore,  has  great  potential 

to  reach  all  students. 


With  this  levy,  Bikechain  plans  to  be  open  full-time  during  the  summer  supported  by  a  mechanic. 
Since  biking  is  somewhat  seasonal,  summer  funding  is  critical  to  offer  full  support  to  student  cyclists. 
The  funding  will  also  be  used  to  replenish  resources  such  as  grease,  lubricants,  and  other  related  materials, 
allowing  Bikechain  to  buy  new  tools  and  replace  old  or  broken  tools.  We  hope  you'll  support  our  proposal, 
which  contributes  to  the  growing  reputation  of  U  of  T  as  a  green  and  engaging  sttident  campus. 

If  the  increase  is  approved,  the  total  fee  for  the  University  of  Toronto  Environmental 

Resource  Network  and  Bikechain  would  be  50  cents  per  session  and  would  be 
charged  to  all  full  time  undergraduate  students  beginning  in  the  fall  2007  session. 

Q&A  Session  ^ 

October  4th,  4-6  pm 
Bahen  Centre  Rm  2 1 3d"  

VOTING 

October  11th  to  13th,  10-6pm 

•  Bahen  Centre  • 

•  University  College 

•  Trinity  College  -  The  Buttery 

•  Victoria  College  -  Wymilwood 

•  UTM  South  Building 

For  further  information,  contact  Elections  Committee 
c/o  Chief  Returning  Officer,  cro@sac.utoronto.ca 
12  Hart  House  Circle,  University  of  Toronto 
416-978-4911  x225 

Students'  Administrative  Council 


Teach  English 
Overseas 


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J  Oxford 

SEMINARS 

416-924-32DI1-800-779-in9 

www.oxfordseminars.com 


U  of  T's 
accessibility 
report  card 


Adam  Morello 

iNFOGRAPHic  BY  Smita  Saxena 

Each  year,  Ontario  universities 
compile  and  submit  an  accessibility 
plan  to  the  provincial  government 
that  examines  existing  and  poten- 
tial barriers  on  campus  to  persons 
with  disabilities.  Last  year,  57  initia- 
tives were  undertaken  in  the  hopes 
of  making  the  University  of  Toronto 
more  accessible  for  all. 

These  are  some  highlights  from 
the  University's  2006  Ontarians  w^ith 
Disabilities  Acts  submission. 

•  Buildings:  One  main  area  of  focus 
has  been  the  accessibility  of  physi- 
cal facilities,  whether  it  be  buildings, 
large  classrooms,  or  exam  rooms. 
Improvements  are  underway  for 
students  with  physical  disabilities, 
as  well  as  those  with  mental  health 
issues  and  chronic  illnesses. 

It  is  hoped  that  the  Universal  De- 
sign Standards  will  make  life  easier 
for  those  with  non-physical  dis- 
abilities by  providing  consistent 
lighting  levels  as  well  as  more  quiet 
spaces.  There  is  also  an  uncertainty 
as  to  the  accessibility  of  some  large 
classrooms  and  exam  spaces  to  stu- 
dents with  physical  disabilities.  In 
response  to  this,  an  on-going  evalu- 
ation is  underway  so  as  to  improve 
the  accessibility  to  both  kinds  of 
rooms. 

•  Learning  resources:  Access  to  the  in- 
ternet and  computers  seems  to  be 
an  invaluable  resource  to  students, 
but,  those  with  disabilities  have  had 
to  deal  with  several  obstacles  in 
gaining  access  to  technology.  Web- 
sites now  must  meet  an  accessibil- 
ity criteria  before  being  published 
through  the  university,  making  the 
internet  more  accessible  for  every 
student.  Lack  of  access  to  worksta- 
tions and  necessary  software  to 
meet  the  needs  of  disabled  students 
has  been  an  issue  as  well,  and  al- 
though a  feasibility  study  was  un- 
dertaken, space  and  funding  limita- 
tions have  placed  a  constraint  on 
resolving  this  issue. 

Government  funding  for  removing 
accessibility  barriers  continues  to 
be  a  limiting  factor,  according  to  the 
university.  The  university's  three  ac- 
cessibility offices  spent  nearly  $2.5 
million  last  year,  while  receiving 
only  $1.6  million  from  the  province. 


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www.mcmaster.ca/graduate 


1 


news@thevarsity.ca 


VARSITY  NEWS 


//SIMCOEHALL 


U  of  T's  Academic  Affairs  Board 
approved  a  proposal  yesterday  for 
a  new  program  in  financial  man- 
agement at  the  Rotman  School  of 
Business.  Judging  by  the  tuition 
fee  the  school  plans  to  chcu-ge, 
though,  anyone  wishing  to  enroll 
must  already  have  personal  expe- 
rience in  handling  large  sums  of 
money. 

The  Master  of  Fincmce  (M.F.) 
degree  program  will  focus  on  cor- 
porate and  institutional  financial 
management,  which  currently 
forms  only  a  fraction  of  Rotman's 
MBA  program.  The  degree  will  be 
offered  starting  Sept.  2007,  and  the 
school  will  accept  an  initial  cohort 
of  30  students,  increasing  its  class 
size  by  ten  students  each  year  for 
the  following  three  years.  It  will 
take  20  months  to  complete. 

Tuition  fees  in  2007-2008  for  stu- 
dents entering  the  program  will 
start  at  $29,160,  and  increase  by 
eight  per  cent  each  year,  so  that 
by  2011-2012,  new  students  will  be 
shelling  out  $39,000.  According  to 
the  budget  statement  included  in 
the  proposal,  by  its  fifth  year,  the 
program  will  be  netting  Rotman  a 
net  surplus  of  $900,000  a  year. 

The  MF  degree  program  is  part 
of  U  of  T's  "graduate  expansion" 
which  will  add  another  1,000  grad- 
uate students  by  next  fall.  Part  of 
the  university's  strategy,  it  seems, 
is  the  creation  new  degree  pro- 
grams which  pay  for  themselves, 
and  charge  "market  tuition  rates." 
-BENSPURR 


LSAT  MCAT 
GMAT  GRE 

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«  Thousands  of  Satisfied  Students 


'STUDENT'  -  CONTINUED  FROM  PG  1 

members,  20  of  them  students.  This 
was  a  far  cry,  however,  from  what 
ASSU  had  lobbied  for.  They  wanted 
to  see  an  equal  number  of  student 
and  faculty  representatives. 

"The  administration  will  tell  you 
that  it's  unprecedented,"  said  the 
ASSU's  Ali.  "However,  you've  got  col- 
lege councils,  where  they  in  fact  have 
parity." 

At  the  council's  first  meeting  on 
Tuesday,  however,  All's  main  concern 
was  the  way  last  week's  elections  to 
the  council  were  run.  In  a  statement 
sent  to  The  Varsity  last  week,  Ali  out- 
lined three  main  concerns. 

He  said  that  first  of  all,  that  the 
whole  electoral  process  was  ex- 
tremely compressed,  taking  place  in 
the  first  three  weeks  of  school.  Sec- 
ondly, students  were  only  told  at  the 
last  minute  the  web  address  of  the 
site  where  they  could  vote  online. 
And  lastly,  there  seemed  to  be  no 
rules  on  campaigning. 

"If  a  student  organization,  like  SAC 
or  ASSU,  were  to  run  elections  that 


were  so  poorly  organized,  defined 
and  executed,  the  university  would 
step  in,  annul  the  results,  and  proba- 
bly take  control  of  our  finances,"  said 
All's  statement. 

But  just  as  he  was  about  to  voice 
these  concerns,  Ali  was  stunned  to 
be  nominated  to  be  acting  chair  of 
the  meeting. 

"It  was  pretty  spontaneous,"  he  said. 
"I  was  pretty  surprised  ...  no  one  else 
put  up  their  hand  to  nominate  any- 
body else." 

So  Ali,  sporting  a  pink  ASSU  T-shirt, 
was  soon  sitting  between  Sinervo 
and  faculty  secretary  Glenn  Loney,  at 
the  head  of  the  council  chamber's  ta- 
ble in  Simcoe  Hall.  And  despite  need- 
ing constant  prompts  and  reminders 
about  how  motions  are  moved  and 
approved,  Ali  kept  the  meeting  on 
track.  He  even  livened  up  the  pro- 
ceedings with  off-the-cuff  remarks 
between  agenda  items. 

"It's  all  good,"  he  reassured  a  coun- 
cil member  at  one  point.  "It's  all  good 
in  the  hood." 

"It  loosens  things  up,"  Ali  said  later. 
"1  think  these  meetings  are  unneces- 


sarily formal."  It  comes  naturally,  he 
asserted.  "It  isn't  planned,  usually." 

And  his  management  style  was  not 
lost  on  the  non-student  members 
present.  "The  last  [meeting]  has 
been  livelier  than  1  can  remember," 
said  Mike  Lorimer,  associate  chair  of 
the  department  of  mathematics. 

Ali  did  draw  some  criticism,  though, 
for  proceeding  to  criticize  council 
elections  while  chairing  its  meeting. 
At  a  reception  after  the  meeting,  Si- 
nervo reminded  him  that  the  chair 
ought  to  be  apolitical. 

"1  really  don't  think  that  the  position 
of  the  chair  is  an  unbiased  position 
to  begin  with,"  Ali  retorted. 

That  said,  Ali  said  he  would  not  run 
for  chair  at  the  council's  next  meet- 
ing, in  November,  when  a  full  comple- 
ment of  faculty  representatives  is 
expected.  "1  don't  want  to  break  with 
what  I  believe  in,"  he  said. 

And  he  saw  no  irony  in  having  sat 
in  the  chair's  chair. 
"I  don't  think  1  was  the  man,  1  was 
fighting  the  man,"  he  said.  "You  have 
to  note  that  1  did  break  with  the  sta- 
tus quo  at  least  twice." 


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March  2000 


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APARTHEID  ^ 

SOUTH         EE  DEIVIOCRATIC 
AFRICA        ^  "SRAEL 

Blacks  in  South  Africa 

Arab  citizens  of  israel 

White  minority  population  controlled  qovernment 
and  oppressed  black  majority. 
Lawmakers  segregated  Blacks  and  deprived  them 
of  equal  rights  and  opportunities. 

A  Jewish  majority  state  that  respects  pluralism. 
All  minorities,  including  the  20%  who  are  Israeli 
Arabs,  have  full  and  equal  rights,  representation 
and  protections. 

Blacks  excluded  from  central  government  and 
denied  right  to  vote  in  national  elections. 

Israeli  Arabs  are  citizens  with  full  voting  rights  and 
political  parties  and  are  elected  members  of  Israel's  J 
parliament, the  Knesset. 

Restricted  movement-blacks  could  enter  white  areas 
only  with  special  permits. 

Absolute  freedom  of  movement  all  over  Israel  for 
all  citizens. 

Strictly  segregated  residential  communities. 
Blacks  forced  into  impoverished  regions. 

Israelis  of  ail  ethnicities  and  religions  can  legally  live 
in  any  public  city  within  Israel. 

Separate  and  inferior  public  facilities  for 
non-whites,  including  buses, trains,  parks,  beaches, 
libraries,  hospitals  and  schools. 
Quality  universities  restricted  to  whites  only. 

Public  facilities  are  fully  integrated.  Arab  Israelis 
attend  Israel's  top  universities  and  are  among  the 
most  educated  people  in  the  Middle  East. 

Racist  legal  system  with  harsher  penalties  for 
Blacks.  Blacks  could  be  executed  for  raping  whites 
but  whites  could  only  be  fined  for  raping  Blacks. 

All  people  treated  equally  under  the  law. 

No  double  standard  based  on  race  or  religion. 

Palestinian  Arabs 

Blacks  had  only  token  local  governments  with  little 
power  and  no  international  recognition. 

in  the  West  Bank  and  Gaza 

Arabs  living  in  the  West  Bank  and  Gaza  are  not 
Israeli  citizens. They  elect  their  own  government, 
the  Palestinian  Authority,  which  makes  laws  and 
has  international  recognition. 

Black  activists  sought  to  end  discrimination  and 
become  equal  citizens. 

Palestinian  militants  and  the  PLO  Charter  have 
sought  to  eliminate  Israel,  the  world's  only  Jewish 
state,  through  war  and  terrorism. 

To  label  Israel  an  ''apartheid  state"  manipulates  the  truth 
and  insults  millions  of  Black  South  Africans 
who  suffered  under  a  true  Apartheid  regime.       ^eiar  i^gar  at  u  of  r 

wwvv'.betar.ca 

Oxford  Seminars 

www.oxfordseminarsxom 


6    THURSDAY,  OCTOBER  5, 2006 


VARSITY  COMMENT 


opinions@thevarsity.ca 


Commending  the  construction  chaos 


Contrary  to  what  you  might  think, 
the  construction  that  has  currently 
blocked  off  large  sections  of  St. 
George  St.  (mostly  around  Harbord) 
and  caused  the  redirection  of  many 
a  frustrated  driver  has  actually  prov- 
en to  be  a  boon  for  students. 

We  are  a  campus  of  jaywalking 
speeders  who  are  saddled  with  the 
sometimes  impossible  task  of  tra- 
versing great  distances  in  ten-minute 
intervals.  Anyone  who  has  ever  tried 
to  get  from  the  McLennan  Physical 
Labs  to  their  next  class  at  Vic  during 
rush  hour  (or  even  midday)  traffic 


►  EDITORIAL  ^ 

knows  how  difficult  a  trek  that  can 
be,  especially  for  those  of  us  who 
don't  drop  by  the  gym  as  often  as  we 
should. 

The  construction  currently  sepa- 
rating the  heart  of  campus  from  the 
outside  world  is  actually  doing  a  lot 
to  make  our  sidewalk  commute  that 
much  faster  and  safer.  It's  much  eas- 
ier to  avoid  sinkholes  and  look  out 
for  falling  debris  than  it  is  to  dart  in 
front  of  speeding  cars  and  madcap 


bikers  while  trying  to  beat  a  yellow 
light.  St.  George  has  become  a  speed- 
walker's  paradise,  with  no  traffic  to 
worry  about  and  a  wider  avenue  to 
accommodate  the  hundreds  of  stu- 
dents constantly  vying  to  gain  pole 
position  in  their  race  to  class. 

Ours  has  got  to  be  the  only  cam- 
pus where  students  are  able  to  and 
would  consider  taking  the  subway 
between  classes.  It's  often  jokingly 
remarked  that  U  of  T  students  don't 
need  a  health  club;  we  get  all  our 
walking  in  just  getting  from  build- 
ing to  building.  While  risking  one's 


life  to  make  a  history  lecture  on  time 
is  not  the  most  rational  thing  to  do, 
sometimes  it  can't  be  avoided.  Hap- 
pily, students  can  run  collision-free 
across  St.  George,  at  least  for  the 
next  little  while. 

Dearest  members  of  the  admin, 
we  admit  that  we  thought  you'd  lost 
your  mind  when  you  agreed  to  such 
significant  road  maintenance  dur- 
ing the  bustle  of  first  term,  instead 
of  getting  it  done  earlier  in  the  sum- 
mer. 

But  now  that  we  can  see  the  re- 
sults of  the  construction,  we  realize 


that  this  allowance  to  jaywalkers  is 
all  a  part  of  your  quest  to  improve 
the  student  experience.  We  can  only 
hope  that,  as  usually  happens,  the 
road  repairs  are  delayed  and  our 
thoroughfare  is  kept  clear  of  traf- 
fic during  the  winter  months,  when 
finding  a  ploughed,  ice-free  path  to 
scoot  across  is  always  a  challenge. 

Now  if  the  school  could  just  get 
those  "high-tech"  vending  machines 
in  Sid  Smith  to  accept  any  kind  of 
coins  and  stop  dispensing  the  wrong 
beverages,  then  our  happiness 
would  be  complete. 


-  LETTERS  " 


Guilty  before 
innocent 


J.P.  Antonacci 

COMMENT  EDITOR 


The  case  of  Maher  Arar,  a  Canadian  citizen  de- 
tained under  suspicion  of  terrorism  and  deported 
to  Syria,  allegations  later  proved  to  be  unfounded, 
recently  made  headlines  when  the  RCMP  apolo- 
gized for  their  mishandling  of  the  file. 

The  problem  with  how  the  Arax  saga  pro- 
gressed was  that  in  the  minds  of  Canadians  read- 
ing reports  of  the  case,  Arar  went  from  being  a 
"terrorist"  to  an  average  guy  who  was  falsely  ac- 
cused and  mistreated. 

For  a  system  that  bases  its  criminal  law  on  the 
premise  of  innocence  before  guilt,  it  is  worth  ex- 
amining how  regularly  cases  like  Arar's  occur. 
From  terror  suspects  such  as  those  arrested  in 
Toronto  over  the  summer  to  suspects  sought  in 
gang  shootings,  our  tendency  as  a  newspaper- 
reading  society  is  at  times  to  assume  guilt  and 
change  our  minds  only  if  proven  wrong  later 

Guilty  until  proven  innocent  is  no  way  to  run 
a  justice  system,  and  we  must  consider  the  role 
of  the  media — which  is  where  the  public  usually 
gets  their  information  about  criminal  cases — in 
how  suspects  are  portrayed. 

The  media  both  tries  to  correct  and  inadver- 
tently (though  sometimes  intentionally)  adds  to 
the  problem  of  the  average  reader  assuming  guilt 
before  due  process  has  taken  its  course.  News- 
papers regularly  use  words  like  "allegedly"  or 
"suspected"  when  describing  crimes  or  suspects 
as  a  way  of  reminding  readers  that,  regardless  of 
the  evidence  or  the  circumstances,  everyone  has 
the  right  to  be  considered  innocent  until  proven 
guilty 

There  are  numerous  reasons  why  the  media 
takes  pains  to  present  suspects  as  innocent  even 
in  cases  that  appear  to  be  a  slam  dunk,  when 
labeling  the  accused  as  guilty  might  sell  more 
papers.  Most  obviously,  it  is  irresponsible  jour- 
nalism to  convict  someone  in  the  media  before  a 
judge  does  in  court — jumping  the  gun  in  that  way 


shows  disrespect  for  the  legal  process  and  could 
prejudice  jurors  and  public  opinion  against  the 
accused,  or  even  against  entire  sections  of  the 
population. 

More  pragmatically,  media  outlets  are  careful 
to  avoid  libel  lawsuits  from  those  wrongfully  ac- 
cused or  inaccurately  portrayed. 

In  an  ideal  world,  readers  would  see  phrases 
like  "the  alleged  homicide"  and  process  the  fact 
that  although  someone  has  died,  it  is  unwise  to 
label  it  a  murder  unless  there  is  a  conviction  or  a 
police  investigation  declares  it  as  such. 

Unfortunately,  though  understandably,  read- 
ers (and  writers  as  well)  rely  on  common  sense 
more  than  legal  niceties  to  interpret  events.  The 
average  reader  eventually  passes  over  words 
like  "allegedly"  since  they  are  always  used  to  de- 
scribe incidents  of  crime  or  terror  In  the  minds 
of  readers,  "suspected"  can  become  "actual," 
and  "alleged"  can  mean  "he  did  it."  The  regular 
and  responsible  use  of  language  that  stresses  a 
person's  innocence  until  proven  guilty  has  ironi- 
cally desensitized  readers  to  that  very  same  legal 
principle. 

How  often  have  we  read  a  report  out  of  Afghan- 
istan in  which  "alleged  Taliban  fighters"  are  killed 
in  a  gun  battle  with  Canadian  troops?  We  all  but 
assume  that  they  are  indeed  Taliban  forces,  de- 
spite that  little  warning  word  which  reminds  us 
that  there  could  be  another  explanation,  and  that 
we  don't  know  all  the  facts. 

The  media  can  play  on  our  assumptions  as 
well;  while  reporters  might  stress  that  there  has 
not  been  a  conviction,  the  suggestive  headlines 
and  details  chosen  for  the  story  can  imply  that 
the  accused  is  guilty. 

While  it  is  frustrating  sometimes  that  nothing 
ever  seems  to  actually  happen  in  the  press,  but 
instead  is  only  "alleged"  to  have  happened,  it's 
worth  suspending  our  assumptions  about  events 
and  truly  considering  the  stories  we  read,  or  else 
we  risk  mistakenly  convicting  future  Maher  Arars 
despite  our  better  judgment. 


Bad  medicine 

Re:  The  doctor's  first  check-up,  Sept.  28 

I  am  disappointed  that  despite  all  of  Mr.  Nay- 
lor's  efforts  to  connect  with  students  he  still  re- 
fuses to  acknowledge  that  the  key  issue  facing 
students  is  high  tuition  fees.  Naylor  supports 
deregulation  of  tuition  fees,  a  position  that  re- 
flects a  failure  to  understand  the  "student  expe- 
rience" of  being  saddled  with  huge  amounts  of 
debt  upon  graduation.  Since  deregulation,  the 
government  of  Ontario  has  already  dramatical- 
ly increased  tuition,  with  some  students  paying 
eight  per  cent  more  this  year  alone.  If  Naylor 
truly  wants  to  make  life  better  for  students  at 
this  institution,  he  should  at  the  very  least  call 
for  a  tuition  freeze.  Naylor's  extensive  'class- 
room visit'  and  handshaking  campaign  did  not 
lead  him  to  the  correct  diagnosis  for  what  ails 
students  at  this  university. 

Emily  Shelton 

A  weedy  issue 

Re:  The  woman  who  knew  too  much?, 
Sept.  14 

At  present,  the  west  plot  of  the  SAC  "Food  for 
All"  garden  is  wasted  on  ornamental  plants 
that  are  inedible,  with  the  exception  of  a  few 
species.  Only  some  vegetables  are  growing  in 
the  northwest  plot;  the  south  plots  were  weed- 


covered  during  the  summer  and  currently  the 
south  and  north  plots  are  bare.  When  Caroline 
Xia  was  managing  the  garden,  all  the  plots  were 
abundant  with  vegetables.  Since  SAC  hired  staff 
to  replace  Caroline,  the  garden  is  producing 
nowhere  near  as  much  as  it  did  before. 

Caroline  sacrificed  almost  eight  years,  with 
no  personal  gain,  to  ensure  that  the  garden's 
ideals  would  be  realized.  The  work  she  did 
requires  the  kind  of  knowledge,  time,  and  effort 
that  should  receive  financial  compensation. 
Caroline  made  it  known  repeatedly  that  she 
was  not  in  an  economic  or  academic  situation 
to  volunteer.  The  fair  thing  for  SAC  to  do  is  to 
give  her  an  honorarium  and  due  respect  for  her 
many  years  of  dedication,  especially  since  SAC 
hired  staff  briefly  in  the  winter  of  2005. 

The  current  situation  is  evidence  that  SAC 
does  not  care  enough  about  poverty  to  ensure 
that  the  garden's  "Food  for  All"  ideals  will 
continue.  After  Caroline,  who  will  pick  up  the 
torch? 

Sheg  Tseng 


r/je  t&/5^welcomes  letters  from  our 
,  readers.  Send  letters  (250  words  max.) 
with  your  full  name  &  phone  number  tO: 

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//QUOTABLE 

.;as«:«<ae<sK&    "What  I  am  aiming  at  is  not  just  memorizing  figures.  I  am  thrilled  by 
seeking  a  story  in  pi. "  (AP) 

-  Akira  Haraguchi  of  Japan,  who  claims  to  have  set  a  world  record 
yesterday  by  reciting  the  mathematical  constant  pi  (3.14  etc)  to  100,000 
decimal  places. 

Haraguchi,  a  psychiatric  counselor,  might  be  in  need  of  his  own  services  after 
sixteen  hours  of  nothing  but  reciting  numbers  and  eating  rice  balls.  As  for  "seek- 
ing the  story"  in  the  rather  unappetizing  numeral,  we  suggest  simply  reading  the 
novel  next  time;  Life  of  Pi  is  just  as  plodding  as  the  number  sequence,  but  it's  much 
quicker  to  get  through. 


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Contributors: 

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Ewan  Dunbar,  Dan  Epstein,  Jeremy  Greenberg, 
Sandy  Hudson,  Khary  Mathurin,  Kimberly  Montgomery, 
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opinions@thevarsity.ca 


VARSITY  COMMENT 


THURSDAY,  OCTOBER  5, 2006  7 


According  to  George 

Prez  has  final  (only)  say  in  new  torture  law 


Ewan  Dunbar 


A  scene  of  torture  from  Iraq:  U.S.  president  George  W.  Bush  can  now  define  torture  and 
rewrite  the  Geneva  Convention  to  fit  his  needs. 


An  alarmingly  large  majority  of 
American  senators  and  Congress- 
persons  voted  in  favour  of  tfie  Mili- 
tary Commissions  Act  last  week, 
sending  the  international  communi- 
ty a  chilling  message  about  Ameri- 
ca's position  on  torture.  If  this  is  the 
first  you've  heard  of  the  bill,  here's 
hoping  it  won't  be  the  last. 

Drastically  underplayed  in  the 
media  both  in  the  U.S.  and  abroad, 
the  bill  is  the  Republican  attempt  to 
solve  a  major  legal  problem  publicly 
thrown  in  the  Bush  administration's 
face  by  the  U.S.  Supreme  Court  this 
past  June.  The  court  ruled  that  the 
Geneva  Conventions  do  indeed  ap- 
ply to  the  people  held  as  (suspect- 
ed) terrorists  in  American  military 
prisons — in  particular,  the  court 
determined  that  the  trials  for  de- 
tainees (or  "military  commissions") 
resembled  kangaroo  courts  and 
could  not  continue. 

Last  week  the  Republicans  re- 
vealed their  solution  to  these  court- 
imposed  limits:  a  law  stating  that 
the  president,  and  not  the  courts, 
would  get  to  decide  the  interpreta- 
tion of  the  Geneva  Conventions. 
Don't  like  the  way  you  were  interro- 
gated? Think  it  might  violate  inter- 
national law?  Sorry — the  president 
doesn't  agree. 

Coming  from  an  administration 
that  has  already  tried  to  defend 
questionable  interrogation  tech- 
niques by  producing  absurdly  nar- 


row definitions  of  torture,  this  de- 
velopment is  hardly  reassuring. 

The  move  is  also  a  slap  in  the  face 
to  the  U.S.  Constitution,  which  envi- 
sioned three  independent  branches 
of  government  (executive,  judicial, 
legislative)  that  are  supposed  to 
keep  each  other  in  check.  Thrusting 
the  interpretation  of  international 
law  into  the  hands  of  the  executive, 
the  same  branch  that  is  giving  the 
orders  to  violate  the  Convention,  is 
not  in  line  with  this  constitutional 
vision.  Neither  is  the  outright  re- 
moval of  a  detainee's  right  to  chal- 
lenge the  grounds  of  his  or  her 
detainment,  by  means  of  a  writ  of 
habeas  corpus. 

A  writ  of  habeas  corpus  is  de- 
signed to  allow  the  courts  (the  ju- 
dicial branch)  to  force  the  release 
of  a  person  held  illegally  by,  you 
guessed  it,  the  executive  branch. 
The  new  bill  confirms  that  anyone 
deemed  by  the  executive  to  be  an 
"alien  unlawful  enemy  combatant" 
("alien"  means  that  U.S.  citizens  can 
breathe  easy  for  the  time  being) 
can  be  held  indefinitely  with  little 
legal  recourse — except,  of  course, 
the  dubious  military  commissions 
themselves. 

Of  course,  the  constitutionality  of 
the  new  bill  is  expected  to  be  chal- 
lenged, since  it  amounts  to  little 
more  than  a  reversion  to  the  situ- 
ation before  the  Supreme  Court's 
June  decision,  with  a  note  thrown 
in  from  lawmakers  saying  that  what- 
ever the  president  says  he  wants  to 


do  is  just  fine.  But  the  mere  thought 
that  democratically  elected  repre- 
sentatives might  think  that  this  bill 
is  a  good  idea  ought  to  be  enough  to 
send  chills  down  the  spine  of  even 
the  most  casual  observer  of  Ameri- 
can politics,  as  should  the  thought 
that  they  just  might  get  away  with 
it. 

Meanwhile,  Canada  has  had  the 
means  to  detain  non-citizens  in- 
definitely with  little  legal  recourse 
since  1991,  though  public  concern 
over  the  fairness  of  these  "security 
certificates"  (government  orders 
to  deport  persons  deemed  danger- 
ous without  laying  charges  or  even 
revealing  evidence)  only  reached 
the  media  in  connection  with  de- 
tentions made  after  September  11, 
2001. 

Earlier  this  year,  our  Supreme 
Court  heard  an  appeal  from  three 
men  detained  by  security  certifi- 
cate— Mohamed  Harkat,  recently 
released  from  detention  but  now 
living  under  house  arrest  and  fac- 
ing deportation  to  Algeria;  Adil 
Charkaoui,  also  under  house  arrest; 
and  Hassan  Almrei,  a  Syrian  refugee 
who  is  still  being  held  at  the  Mill- 
haven  Penitentiary  in  Bath — chal- 
lenging the  constitutionality  of  the 
certificates. 

Like  the  new  American  legislation 
(and  the  old  American  policies),  Ca- 
nadian security  certificates  are  dra- 
conian  practices  better  left  in  the 
era  of  Louis  XIV.  Whither  Canada? 
That,  too,  must  wait  for  the  courts. 


Hart  House  Theatre  presents 


THE  STRINDBERG 

OJECT 


JOHN  NEVILLE 

directs  a  company  of 
Toronto's  finest  professional  actors 
OCT  10- 12,  2006®  8pm 


Tuesday  Oct  Wfh: 

THE  PELICANv^ith  :  Hazel  Desbarats,  Anna  Hardv/ick,  Brendan  Murray,  Wenna  Shaw,  David  Storch 
THE  STRONGER  with:  Hazel  Desbarats,  Wenna  Shaw 


Wednesday  Oct  1  Uh: 

THE  DANCE  OF  DEATH  with:  John  Neville,  Francine  Volker,  Robin  Ward 


Thursday  Oct  12fh: 

THE  GHOST  SONATA  (excerpts)  with:  Keith  Dinicol,  Joe  Dinicol,  Martha  Farrell 
MISS  JULIE  excerpts  presented  by  the  Victoria  College  Drama  Society 


www.harthousetheatre.ca 


BOX  OFFICE 

^^;6eVARSn  Y  ^i^^rmn 


uofttix.ca 

,.«978-8849 


Mcioche  Motmcx 


CAPTAiN 

PftlNTV/6RK3 


rV.ftAS^Y  Of  SVVfDTN 


AUDITIONS  for  LYSISTRATA 

directed  by  Tabby  Johnson 
Tuesday  Oct  10th 


For  LYSISTRATA  audition  info 

visit  the  Collboard  @ 
www.harthousetheatre.ca 


8   THURSDAY,  OCTOBER  5, 2006 


VARSITY  ARTS  &  ENTERTAINMENT 


We  review  the  Nuit  that  was 


Sarah  Barmak,  Josie  Chan,  Jeremy  Greenberg, 

Khary  Mathurin,  Sumon  Mukherjee, 

Amy  Smithers  

Night